Abingdon, Virginia-based coal mining company Alpha Natural Resources reported that miner Ryan Thatcher suffered fatal injuries at the Voyager #7 underground coal mine near Inez, Kentucky on Tuesday.
While there were no eyewitnesses to the incident, Alpha said that Thatcher was likely fatally injured while traveling beneath an overcast beam on the roof of the mine. The incident is under investigation.
Alpha Natural Resources acquired the mine along with other mining operations when it acquired rival coal miner Massey Energy in June. Massey Energy, and safety practices at Massey mines, has been under investigation since last year's deadly disaster in West Virginia last April that killed 29 people.