Rick McKnight, 45, was crushed Friday afternoon while working on equipment for loading a conveyor belt, Associated Press reported. He had worked at Lone Mountain Processing's Huff Creek No. 1 mine at Holmes Mill, about 30 miles east of Harlan, for 11 years.
Federal and state inspectors were investigating the accident but early reports indicate the machine shifted and pinned the miner.
The earlier accident occurred on Thursday when pillar material fell on a miner at a Pike County coal mine.
David Chad Bolen, 28, was moving a shuttle car anchor in the Tri Star Coal LLC No. 1 mine when he was killed. He had been working at the mine for two months and had three years experience as a shuttle car operator.
“Two deaths in as many days are a concern and reminds us all of the dangers associated with mining coal," said State Governor Ernie Fletcher, offering condolences to the families of the miners.
