Section Foreman fatality at Ohio County Mine (Ohio County Coal Resources, Inc.), WV, April 3, 2026

An employee was working on a winch rope on a 650 scoop that was loaded with a shield, this shield was hit by another 650 scoop, causing the employee to be caught between the scoop EE was working on and the shield tip.

On April 3, 2026, at 10:21 a.m., Darin Reece, a 36-year-old section supervisor with 18 years of mining experience, died after he was struck by a longwall shield and pinned against a scoop. The accident occurred because the mine operator did not develop written policies and procedures addressing repairs to equipment.

1. The mine operator did not have policies or procedures to address performing maintenance or repairs.

   Corrective action: A safeguard was issued to address longwall set up and recovery regarding work performed on scoops and mobile equipment in haulage and tram roads. All impacted miners have been trained on the safeguard requirements.

Read the full report (PDF)

Findings from MSHA's final investigation report, which supersedes the preliminary narrative above.

Activity at time of incident

Machine Maintenance

Subunit / location

UNDERGROUND

Underground location

FACE

Mining method

Longwall

Accident type

Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Source of injury

MINE JEEP,KERSEY,JITNEY

Nature of injury

CRUSHING

Body part affected

MULTIPLE PARTS (MORE THAN ONE MAJOR)

Total mining experience

18 years

Experience at this mine

11 years

Experience in this job

17 years

Degree of injury

FATALITY

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