Kentucky Miner Killed In Wise County Accident

WISE COUNTY, Va. — A longwall collapse at a Wise County surface mine killed a Kentucky excavator operator Wednesday morning.

Virginia Department of Mine, Minerals and Energy spokesman Mike Abbott identified the victim as 49-year-old Richard Yonts of Jenkins.

Abbott tells us that Yonts was removing loose rock from a highway at the Fairbanks Coal Company Number 4 Surface Mine when the highwall collapsed, trapping Yonts in the excavator.

The accident remains under investigation by state and federal officials.

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