William Pardee, 62, was working underground at Amfire’s Nolo operation in Cambria County, Pennsylvania just before 4am local time when he was pinned between a feeder and mine rib, according to the Associated Press.
The complex is controlled by Alpha Natural Resources. Spokesman Ted Pile told local news outlets that the company was “terribly saddened” by the loss of Pardee, who was foreman of a crew advancing conveyor belt.
Production has been suspended at the mine pending the completion of state and federal investigations, he told the Tribune-Democrat.
The 101-worker Nolo operation won a safety award for its safety performance after working more than 53,000 hours in its third quarter with no lost-time injuries, Pile added.
A request by ILN for further details from the US Mine Safety and Health Administration was not returned by press time.
