[15thRegionCrazy]

FREEBURN, Ky. (AP) - A coal miner was killed Thursday when
material from a pillar fell on top of him at a Pike County mine,
the state said.

David Chad Bolen, 28, of Harold in Floyd County, was moving a
shuttle car anchor in the Tri Star Coal LLC No. 1 mine at the time
of the accident, according to the Environmental and Public
Protection Cabinet.

Bolen had been working at the company for two months and had
three years' experience as a shuttle car operator. He is the fourth
Kentucky coal miner to be killed while working an active mine this
year. Five Kentucky miners were killed on the job in 2004 and in
2005.

Officials said the accident occurred around 2:30 p.m. EDT.
Federal and state authorities are investigating the cause of the
collapse.

"Improving mine safety has been a priority of our
administration," Gov. Ernie Fletcher said in a statement.
"Although we are making significant progress, we will not be
satisfied until every working miner returns home safely."

The General Assembly passed a measure in March that will require
state inspectors to visit every coal mine in the state at least
three times a year.

http://wkyt.com/Global/story.asp?S=4798536