Miners Injured in Truck Wreck

PRENTER – At least one miner was seriously injured Thursday in a truck accident at a Massey Energy operation in Boone County, state officials said.

The accident occurred while two workers were driving to work on a company road at a Massey subsidiary Independence Coal operation near Prenter, said Ronald Wooten, director of the state Office of Miners Health, Safety and Training.

“They apparently passed two vehicles, including a coal truck, and lost control of their private vehicle, which was a pickup truck,” Wooten said.

One miner was thrown from the vehicle, and was in intensive care with a fractured skull, Wooten said. Details on the other worker’s injuries were not immediately available.

The accident occurred as the miners were on their way to work at about 6 a.m. Thursday, Wooten said.

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