News

Justice on mine search: “We’re not going to quit”

CHARLESTON — Gov. Jim Justice said his administration’s top priority is to reach the three Raleigh County residents who have been trapped in an idled coal mine since Saturday.

“We need just to forget any and every thought except one thing — and that is trying with all of our soul to bring these people out alive,” Justice told reporters in Beckley Wednesday afternoon.

A rescue team entering through the Rock Creek (Raleigh County) portal of the Rock House Powellton mine in Clear Creek had progressed 4,000 feet into the mine by mid-afternoon Wednesday. They had good air, Justice said.

“They’re able to go without apparatuses on them–so that’s a good sign. If there’s people there and they were in a pocket of air that was good air now there’s lots of pockets of good air,” according to Justice.

It’s believed Erica Treadway, 31, of Pax, Kayla Williams, 25, of Artie, and Cody Beverly, 21, of Dorothy, went into the mine Saturday with Eddie Williams, 43, of Artie to look for copper or other items. Eddie Williams came out Monday night.

Officials with the state mine safety office said a rescue team on the Boone County side, the main mine portal, were not able to get into the mine Wednesday because the water remained high.

“Although water is still being pumped from the mine, levels remain too deep for entry. Fans are still circulating fresh air into the mine at this location,” a statement said.

Gov. Justice said the mine safety teams are doing a great job.

“They are real superstars at what they do and their courage in unquestionable,” he said.

Justice added the search would not stop until there’s a definitive result.

“We’re not going to quit. We’re not going to quit until absolutely we have an answer. We’re not going to quit until we know that without a doubt they’re not in the mine or God forbid that we find them dead or we find them alive,” Justice said.

Family members once again gathered at Whitesville Wednesday near the state’s command center to await word. Justice has spent some time with them.

“If you were there at that community center with those families, as I was, it’s just gut-wrenching, little children and granddads all waiting,” he said.

Justice said he may ask the legislature to take action that would discourage residents from entering abandoned mines. Although he said you can’t make the mines “Fort Knox,” he did said there may be some steps possible with mine-grade copper.

“We’ve got to look at making that illegal to purchase,” he said. “Everyone knows the difference between common everyday copper and this grade of copper. So if we just took this off the market where people couldn’t buy that, that could be a real incentive as well.”