Miner killed in May accident had fentanyl in his system, Va. Energy reports

BIG STONE GAP, Va. (WJHL) — A May 31 mine accident that killed a 27-year-old drew multiple notices of violation for mine owner Coronado Global Resources, according to a Virginia Energy fatality investigation report that also noted the miner who died had fentanyl in his system.

Brock Jackson was working as a roof bolter operator at the Buchanan #1 Mine when a large section of rock fell from the roof in the area where he was scheduled to work that evening.

Jackson had traveled through a 17-foot-long area of unsupported roof to retrieve some supplies and was heading back through the same cut when the roof section fell and struck him.

According to interviews with fellow workers, two of them “tried to warn Jackson several times not to come back through the cut-through because small rocks were falling from the roof and they heard several popping noises that indicated it was going to fall at any time.”

Jackson proceeded through the crosscut anyway, the report stated. He was struck by a rock weighing close to two tons and pushed to the mine floor.

One co-worker said that after realizing they needed cable bolts, Jackson told him he didn’t want to walk the “long block” to get them, choosing instead to run through the break. That co-worker told Jackson he shouldn’t return that way.

According to the report, toxicology report results “showed positive results for fentanyl and para/meta flourofentanyl (an illicit fentanyl analogue with no prescription source).”

Virginia Energy issued a notice of violation for not following the approved roof control plan and for not having the correct emergency supplies in a cache that is supposed to be available. Another notice cited the company for not following the emergency response plan and not having the correct emergency supplies in an emergency injury trauma shed.

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