41 22

41 is the number of coal miners that have been killed on the job this year.
22 is the number that were killed last year.

Preston County miner killed in accident
Associated Press

NEWBURG, W.Va. - Federal and state regulators are investigating a fatal accident at an Alpha Natural Resources mine in Preston County, West Virginia.

The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration and state Office of Miners' Health Safety and Training say the miner died Friday afternoon in the collapse of a wall at the Whitetail Kittanning Mine. Neither agency identified the victim.

A spokesman for Abingdon, Va.-based Alpha declined to name the victim. Ted Pile said the 49-year-old miner was operating a coninuous mining machine when the accident occurred.

The mine is operated by a subsidiary of Alpha called Kingwood Mining.

MSHA records show the accident was the 21st coal mining-related fatality in West Virginia and the 41st nationally this year.

Last year, only three miners died in West Virginia.

More stories on 2006 Mine Disasters here.