Coal Miner Killed on Job in Western Kentucky

State officials say a coal miner has died after being struck by a coal-hauling car at an underground mine in western Kentucky. 

The Kentucky Division of Mine Safety has identified the miner as 34-year-old Eli Eldridge of Sturgis.     

It was just the second mining fatality in the state this year. 

Eldridge was hit by a ram car, a long flat motorized car that hauls coal to the feeder. The accident occurred Tuesday at the Patriot Coal Company Highland No. 9 mine near Waverly around 11 a.m. CST.   

The first Kentucky fatality occurred Oct. 8 at a surface mine in Bell County.