Published: May 09, 2008 09:06 pm            

One airlifted after Va. mine accident

BANDY, Va. — A man was airlifted Friday to a Bristol hospital following a mining accident in Tazewell County.

The accident was reported at 10 a.m. at CONSOL’s Miles Branch mine on Dry Fork Road in Bandy, Mike Abbott, a spokesman for the Virginia Division of Mines, Minerals and Energy, said. Abbott said a miner was struck by a rock.

“The injured person is a continuous miner operator, and he was in the process of hanging a ventilation curtain in the mine, and there was a piece of rock that fell out — it is often referred to as a kettle bottom — and this large piece of rock fell and struck the victim in the legs,” Abbott said. “We have our people there at this time. The investigation is ongoing. We actually have people underground at this time.”

Abbott said the man, who was identified as Wayland Steven Gills, 54, of Mercer County, was airlifted to Bristol Regional Medical Center.

“He is being examined there at Bristol Regional Medical Center,” Abbott said. “That is the only information we have at this point.”

Abbott said the man was apparently pinned by the rock. His condition wasn’t immediately known Friday.

“He had been temporarily pinned by the rock, and they used a jack or jacks to get the rock off of his legs so they could remove him and bring him out of the mine,” Abbott said.

Abbott said the section of the mine where the accident occurred was idled Friday pending the investigation. The Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration also is investigating the accident.

Abbott said no other injuries were reported in the accident.

The man was transported from the mine site by the Tazewell County Fire and Rescue Squad to a nearby location where he airlifted to Bristol Regional Medical Center, Steve Nidiffer, safety officer for the Tazewell County Fire and Rescue, said.

— Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com

        

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