A coal miner killed on the job in West Virginia is the 10th in US this year, surpassing 2023 total

A coal miner has died nearly a week after being injured on the job in northern West Virginia

GRAFTON, W.Va. — A coal miner died Friday, nearly a week after being injured on the job in northern West Virginia, officials said.

Colton Walls, 34, of Bruceton Mills, was injured while working as a longwall electrician at the underground Leer Mining Complex operated by Arch Resources in Grafton, Gov. Jim Justice said in a statement. According to the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration, the incident happened Sept. 28.

Walls is survived by his wife, Jonda, and three children, Justice said.

“The heart and soul of West Virginia are found in our coal miners, and today, we grieve the loss of one of our own,” the governor said.

The statement did not disclose further details about the accident, which is under investigation by MSHA and the state Office of Miners’ Health Safety and Training.

It was the fifth reported coal fatality of the year in West Virginia and the 10th nationally, according to MSHA. There were nine such U.S. deaths last year.

In August, Arch Resources and Consol Energy announced they are combining to form a single coal producer valued at more than $5 billion, marking the latest consolidation in a deal-happy energy sector.

Read More

  • Related Posts

    Two killed and multiple injured in mass shooting at Brown University as Ivy League campus is plunged into lockdown and students are warned to ‘RUN’ or ‘FIGHT’ while police hunt gunman

    A masked shooter left at least two students dead and at least nine injured at Brown University campus after opening fire inside a classroom as students prepared for a final…

    Arsonist who killed 13-year-old boy on his first sleepover by hurling a Molotov cocktail into a building learns his fate

    Arthur Haines was killed after becoming becoming trapped in a burning home The fire was set by Gregory John Walker after he threw a molotov cocktail Walker was sentenced to…

    You Missed

    Family say grandmother’s death after catching Legionnaires’ disease from ‘smelly and off-colour’ hot tub in rented holiday cottage was ‘entirely preventable’

    Family say grandmother’s death after catching Legionnaires’ disease from ‘smelly and off-colour’ hot tub in rented holiday cottage was ‘entirely preventable’

    Racist former soldier who ranted about ‘bowing down to Muslims’ found guilty of murdering his Moroccan-born neighbour

    Racist former soldier who ranted about ‘bowing down to Muslims’ found guilty of murdering his Moroccan-born neighbour

    Football fan and author, 60, dies after falling from ladder while putting up Union Flags on lampposts

    Football fan and author, 60, dies after falling from ladder while putting up Union Flags on lampposts

    Andrew and Fergie come out of exile for palace christening of Princess Beatrice’s daughter Athena

    Andrew and Fergie come out of exile for palace christening of Princess Beatrice’s daughter Athena

    White couple ‘faked DNA test’ in bid to keep mixed-race baby that was born through surrogate

    White couple ‘faked DNA test’ in bid to keep mixed-race baby that was born through surrogate

    Arrival of 600 new migrants on flotilla of mega-dinghies and inflatables shatters Labour’s claim to be getting a grip on the small boats crisis

    • By poster
    • February 18, 2026
    • 3 views
    Arrival of 600 new migrants on flotilla of mega-dinghies and inflatables shatters Labour’s claim to be getting a grip on the small boats crisis