CITIZEN STAFF REPORT

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A West Virginia coal miner was fatally injured Thursday night in Kanawha County.

Kris Ball, 34, of Hart, W.Va., was killed at the Kanawha Eagle Coalburg Tunnel Mine, Gov. Jim Justice announced Friday. Blackhawk Mining Company owns the mine.

“All the miners across our great state are absolute heroes,” Gov. Justice said in a press release. “We should be eternally grateful to this young man, to his incredible family, and to all of our coal miners across our state. I will promise you that Cathy and I will continue to keep this young man and his loved ones in our prayers and I ask all West Virginians to join us.”

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) released a statement Friday.

“Gayle and I are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Kris Ball at the Coalburg Tunnel Mine. We ask all West Virginians to join us in keeping his wife Chelsea and their three children in our prayers during this devastating time,” Manchin said.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration has not released a preliminary report but noted the accident as “electrical.”