CARBON, W.Va. — A fuel truck driver died on a southern West Virginia surface mine site early Tuesday morning when the truck he was driving overturned.
Alpha Natural Resources said the accident happened at its Republic Energy subsidiary in Raleigh County when the driver, who worked for contractor Rogers Petroleum, lost control of the truck. The company said it’s not clear whether the wreck was mine related or due to natural causes. There were apparently no eyewitnesses to the 3:30 a.m. crash. The truck had a load of diesel fuel.
“Republic Energy has had a relationship with Rogers Petroleum for a number of years, and we all share in their loss,” Republic Energy President James Wood said in a released statement.
Federal and state mine investigators were on the scene Tuesday beginning an investigation.