Ben Hatfield
Ben Hatfield
The Sago Mine disaster was a coal mine explosion on January 2, 2006, at the Sago Mine in Sago, West Virginia, United States, near the Upshur County seat of Buckhannon. The blast and collapse trapped 13 miners for nearly two days; only one survived. It was the worst mining disaster in the United States since the Jim Walter Resources Mine Disaster in Alabama on September 23, 2001, and the worst disaster in West Virginia since the 1968 Farmington Mine Disaster...
center command information initial multiple proved report rescue teams
The initial report from the rescue teams from the command center indicated multiple survivors, but that information proved to be a miscommunication.
add communication fact last night problems terrible
It is unfortunate and we are saddened by the fact that the communication problems we experienced last night only add to the terrible tragedy.
events great manner regret sincerely
We sincerely regret the manner under which events unfolded this morning. The events are a great tragedy.
certainly confident employees explosion final highly joint knowledge pleased reach similar unusual word work
While our independent investigation is certainly not the final word on the explosion, we are confident that the joint federal-state investigation will reach a similar conclusion. We are pleased that we can get our Sago employees back to work with the knowledge that the explosion was an unpredictable and highly unusual accident.
develop effort future help identify intend leader prevent safety
We intend to be a leader in the effort to identify and develop safety technologies that will help to prevent future tragedies.
army conduct fixed hard people safe
We have an army of people working as hard as they can to get the ventilation fixed so it is safe to go in and conduct the investigation.
blazing miles
We can't see 2 miles underground. We didn't know if there was a blazing fire.
We had no idea what they were being told.
allowed good longer needed process trying
We needed good information, and we were trying to get them that information. In the process of being cautious, we allowed the jubilation to go on longer than it should have.
believe determined fewer forward hard industry less men move pace people quicker talented
We determined we could move forward at a quicker pace by rehabilitating fewer entries and doing less construction on the way in. I believe we have the smartest, most talented people in the industry working as hard as they can to get the men out safely.
confirmed determined hospital local medical miners remaining rescue rushed serious structure survivor team
The only confirmed survivor is Randall McCloy, who has now been rushed to a local hospital in serious condition. The 11 remaining miners in the barricade structure were determined by the medical technicians on the rescue team to have already deceased.
allowed longer
We allowed the jubilation to go on longer than it should have.
company interest involved mine operated time year
We have no interest in getting into finger-pointing of what went on a year ago. This is a mine that operated for some significant time before my company was involved with it.
allowed good information longer process trying
We were trying to get them good information and in the process of being cautious, we allowed the jubilation to go on longer than it should have.