BUNNER RIDGE, W.Va. — A Ritchie County man is dead following an accident at a natural gas well site in Marion County.
The accident killed Fred Allen Layman, Jr., 40, of Ellenboro while working for the Ronald Lane Pipeline Construction Company near North Bunner Ridge Road.
Initial reports indicate that a “pig” was being run through a line in order to remove water or pressure. A malfunction in the equipment caused an explosion, sending a piece of the apparatus flying into Layman’s head.
He would not survive the impact.
West Virginia State Police, the Marion County Rescue Squad, and the Bunner Ridge Volunteer Fire Department responded to the call just after 3 PM Tuesday afternoon.
The accident remains under investigation.