GRAFTON, W.Va. — The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has released the final report regarding a fatal accident at the Arch Coal Leer Mining Complex in Taylor County in August.
William Crandall, 57, was struck in the head in an accident on Aug. 5 and died from his injuries two days later.
According to the final report, Crandall was using an airbag to lift a power car that had derailed when the accident happened.
The report also said Crandall, a locomotive driver, and the midnight shift supervisor were hurt in the accident. The supervisor suffered a laceration to his forehead.
The report said the reason for the derailment was a turn too tight for the equipment. The airbags failed because three were used stacked on top of each other, and by regulations only two are allowed to be stacked. Also, the report said not all of the employees on that shift were trained on the equipment being used.
Federal officials have recommended retraining employees on equipment operation and repairing the track where the power car had gone off the rails.