It is reported that Consol halted production at its Buchanan No 1 Mine out of respect for a coal miner who died Wednesday evening as a result of injuries he received while working at the mine on January 11.

Mr Mike Abbott a spokesman for the Virginia Department of Mines Minerals and Energy said Mr Joe Saunders 44, of Princeton died at Bristol Regional Medical Center in Bristol, Tenn.

He said that “We have an investigation on-going at the site with federal inspectors with the Mine Safety and Health Administration. In these investigations, it is typical that we close down the site where the accident occurred. It is my understanding that the mine operator Consol shut the mine down today out of respect for the coal miner who died.”

Saunders and another coal miner were injured at about 9 PM on January 11 when a high-pressure water line valve they were working on exploded.

(Sourced from bdtonline.com)