West Virginia Mine Company Cited in Deadly Accident

Federal mining officials are citing West Virginia’s Patriot Coal for serious violations during a severe coal burst that killed two miners in May.

The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration issued three citations Tuesday for the Boone County mine accident.

Citations say Patriot didn’t adequately protect miners from hazards, report a similar burst three days earlier or preserve evidence about the earlier burst.

On May 12, miners Eric Legg and Gary Hensley were killed at the Brody Mine No. 1 after coal shot out at them.

A coal burst three days earlier covered a worker in coal up to his waist but didn’t injure him. It wasn’t reported.

State officials previously cited similar violations.

A Patriot spokeswoman didn’t immediately return an email for comment.

The Charleston Gazette first reported the enforcement.