State mine safety officials have released the name of the coal miner killed Wednesday afternoon in Kanawha County.
A spokesperson say Brandon Townsend, 34, of Delbarton, died at the Blue Creek prep plant near Malden in Kanawha County.
Townsend was killed after a hydraulic cylinder exploded. Another worker suffered minor injuries.
The prep plant is owned by Midland Trail Energy, a subsidiary of Patriot Coal.
State and federal mine investigators are conducting investigations.