A Pennsylvania man was killed by falling rock in a mine accident Tuesday night.
Zachary Wolfe, 34, of Rices Landing, died in the 10 p.m. accident at the Bailey Mine in Aleppo Township, Greene County, the Greene County Coroner’s Office said in a statement Wednesday.
An investigation by Pennsylvania State Police determined Wolfe was fatally injured after being crushed by 1,000 pounds of rock.
The accident occurred about 700 feet underground, where a rib failure occurred on a sidewall while Wolfe was putting up roof supports, said Trooper Kalee Barnhart.
Wolfe was pronounced dead at 11:39 p.m., the coroner’s office said.
Greene County Emergency Management Agency Director Richard Policz said EMS services and the New Freeport Fire Department were dispatched to the scene.
Two other miners were injured in the incident, Barnhart said. One man suffered a head injury and was airlifted to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown. A woman injured her arm and was transported to Ruby by ambulance.
The coroner’s office had yet to determine the cause and manner of death, according to the coroner’s release. No further information was available Wednesday pending the results of an autopsy.
State police said in a statement the incident remains under investigation.
In a statement, mine owner Core Natural Resources of Canonsburg, Pa., said it is working with state and federal officials to find out what caused the accident.
“We are deeply saddened to confirm that we lost a member of our Core family during an incident underground at our Bailey mine,” the company said in the release. “… Our thoughts, prayers and heartfelt sympathies are with the individual’s family, friends and colleagues during this incredibly difficult time.”
