Taylor County mine worker died after being struck in head, preliminary report says

GRAFTON, W.Va. (WBOY) — The preliminary report from the fatal accident that happened at the Leer Mine in Taylor County last week says that the victim was struck in the head and died two days later.

The report was released by the Mine Safety and Health Administration over the weekend and said that the accident happened while the victim, 57-year-old William Joe Crandall, of Fairmont, was working in the underground retreat mining area of the Leer Mine.

Crandall was using an air lifting bag to rerail a longwall electrical power car when he was struck in the head at 5:55 a.m. on Aug. 5, according to the preliminary report. He died around 3 p.m. on Aug. 7.

Crandall was a motorman at the mine and had been employed there for more than 11 years, the report said. He was one of 125 employees in the mine when the accident happened.

The accident is still being investigated by MSHA. A final determination on the nature and cause of the accident has not been released. You can see the full preliminary report here .

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