Coal Mine Deaths Reach Double Of Last Year

With the death yesterday of a Kentucky coal miner, 44 coal miners have been killed on the job so far in 2006, double the 22 who were killed in all of 2005, and the most coal miners that have been killed in one year since 1995.

Kentucky Miner Dies in Accident

Underground mine section foreman dies after being struck on the head.

ELKHORN CITY, Ky. -- A Kentucky coal miner died on the job Saturday.

Tony Swieney, 44, an underground mine section foreman, was struck on the head by a large electrical plug

It happened Saturday afternoon at the McCoy Elkhorn Number 23 mine near Ashcamp-- that's in Pike County.

Swieney died on the way to the hospital. His death is the 15th coal-related fatality in the BlueGrass state this year.