1/24/2003

Probe Into Deadly Explosion Will Take Days

Staff
Cameron

State investigators are interviewing the survivors of Wednesday's explosion near the McElroy Mine in Marshall County. Those interviews will include at least two of the men who were injured in the explosion and survived, including 28-year-old Aaron Meyer of Cameron.

Twenty-three-year-old Benny Bair of Pentress in Monongalia County remains in critical condition at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh. The crew boss, 51-year-old Richard Brumley, is in serious condition.

They're the only three to survive the explosion that investigators believe was caused by a build-up of methane gas. A full investigation is underway.

Mine Safety and Health Administration officials say the Central Cambria Drilling Company that employed the men did have a number of violations on its record. But MSHA officials say inspections in November resulted in no safety citations at the site.

MSHA Secretary David Lauriski says they've put together a team to fully investigate the accident. He says the team will not issue a ruling on the cause of the explosion until the investigation is finished.

Lauriski says the agency's focus is on the families of the three people killed. He adds there will be things MSHA can learn from a full investigation into the accident.