A coal miner died Monday in a workplace accident in southern West Virginia, the governor’s office said.
Taylor Meldin Halstead, 20, of Bob White, was killed in the accident at Panther Mining LLC’s American Eagle Mine in the Kanawha County community of Dawes, the governor’s office said in a statement.
The statement did not give details surrounding the death, which was the sixth coal mining fatality nationwide this year. There have been two deaths apiece in West Virginia, Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
According to the Mine Safety and Health Administration, the fewest coal mining fatalities in a year nationally was eight in 2016.
Gov. Jim Justice said he and his wife, Cathy, “are deeply saddened to learn that we lost one of our incredible West Virginia coal miners today. This is especially devastating news so close to the Thanksgiving holiday. We can never appreciate our miners enough for the brave and important work they do every day to power our homes, state, and nation.”
Both of West Virginia’s Senators — Democrat Joe Manchin and Republican Shelley Moore Capito— shared their condolences on Twitter.
Gayle and I send our deepest condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of Taylor Meldin Halstead, who died today at the American Eagle Mine in Kanawha County. This terrible news is especially heartbreaking during the holidays. Please join us in praying for Taylor's family
— Senator Joe Manchin (@Sen_JoeManchin) November 23, 2020
Absolutely awful, especially this close to Thanksgiving. Charlie and I send our heartfelt condolences to Taylor’s loved ones. We’ll be praying for his family. https://t.co/EP5dvAmh1t
— Shelley Moore Capito (@SenCapito) November 23, 2020
Reporter Brittany Patterson contributed to this story.