Two miners in West Virginia — one in Raleigh County and another in Marshall County — died in separate mining incidents between Thursday evening and Friday morning at mines facing dozens of federal citations for safety violations since the beginning of the year, according to information from the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration.
In Raleigh County, 53-year-old Aaron Warrix died after being struck by a rock at the Horse Creek Eagle Mine — which is listed as Panther Eagle Mine by MSHA — around 5 p.m. on Thursday, according to a news release from Alpha Metallurgical Resources. The Chapmanville native was a shuttle car operator who had worked for Marfork Coal Company — a subsidiary of Alpha — for more than four years.
Around 10:30 a.m. Friday morning, a man also died at the Ohio County Mine, in Marshall County, where local news reported he was allegedly caught between pieces of machinery. Gov. Patrick Morrisey identified the man in a news release Friday evening as Darin Reece, a continuous miner section supervisor. MSHA did not have a fatality report available for Reece’s death by publication time Friday. The Ohio County Mine is operated by Ohio County Coal Resources, Inc., which is a subsidiary of American Consolidated Natural Resources, Inc.
According to MSHA’s online database, both the Panther Eagle Mine and the Ohio County Mine are undergoing routine health and safety inspections that started on April 1.
Since Jan. 1, 2026, the Panther Eagle Mine has been subject to 50 citations for violations relating to MSHA’s health and safety standards, according to the federal agency. Those violations range from inadequate ventilation systems and escape routes for workers underground to the accumulation of combustible materials and lacking fire equipment.
Per the MSHA database, at least 23 citations have been levied against Panther Eagle Mine since last June for violations relating to the complex’s roof control plan and a lack of protections and support to prevent injury from falling rock and coal in areas where workers travel.
Andy Eidson, chief executive officer at Alpha, said in a statement that the company was “heartbroken” to hear of Warrix’s death.
The Ohio County Mine, per MSHA, has received 29 citations for violations related to health and safety standards since the beginning of 2026, including for subpar methane monitors and the testing, examination and maintenance of electrical equipment, among many others.
In two news releases Friday, Morrisey said MSHA was conducting full investigations into both the deaths. He urged West Virginians to keep Warrix’s and Reece’s family and community in their “thoughts and prayers.”
“The impact of these events reaches far beyond the job site. It is felt by families, coworkers and entire communities,” Morrisey said. “That weight is even greater today, as (Reece’s death) marks the second loss of life in West Virginia’s mining community in less than 24 hours.”
- 5:23 pmThis story was updated to include more information that became available after publication regarding Reece’s death.
This article originally appeared on West Virginia Watch.
West Virginia Watch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. West Virginia Watch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Leann Ray for questions: info@westvirginiawatch.com.
