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...
clinging families hope progress
Progress has been slow. Families are clinging to every hope of survival.
again certainly hearts hoped outcome prayed prayers
This is certainly not the outcome that we had hoped for and prayed for. So again our hearts and prayers go out to the families.
accident cause circumstance federal mine state terrible thorough undertaken
A thorough investigation of the cause and circumstances of this terrible accident will be undertaken by federal and state mine regulatory officials.
family good looking people share
They were looking desperately for good information. These are friends, family of the people that are trapped. There was desperation for good information. They wanted to share it.
believe felt heard heavy miners percussion skilled system
They felt the percussion and heard the noise. We believe they probably encountered heavy smoke, and the ventilation system was obstructed. They then did what skilled miners do.
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.
We had no idea what they were being told.
allowed longer
We allowed the jubilation to go on longer than it should have.
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.
rules
In the jubilation of the moment, the rules didn't hold.
best care certainly draw employees level meeting paid weekend
In the interim, certainly this week, they are being paid and we're meeting with the employees over the weekend to draw up longer-term plans. We're going to do our very level best to take care of our people.
certainly hopes stretched thin
Hopes certainly are stretched thin at this point.
command information spread
That information spread like wildfire, because it had come from the command center.