February 6, 2013
Victim of first mine accident in 2013 identified
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A Mingo County man was identified Thursday as West Virginia's first coal-mining death of 2013.

The state Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training this morning identified the miner who died in a Wednesday accident as Brandon E. Townsend, 34, of Delbarton.

Townsend was killed Wednesday afternoon at a coal preparation plant in Kanawha County. Another person was injured in the incident.

The incident occurred at Patriot Coal subsidiary Midland Trail Energy's Five Mile Prep Plant in the Campbells Creek area of Kanawha County, according to the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration.

MSHA said that the mine operator reported that a hydraulic jack exploded on a belt press.

It was not clear what time the incident occurred.

The incident is the second coal-mining death in the U.S. this year, according to MSHA.

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