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Tragic 'Misunderstanding' in West Virginia Mine Accident
After Being Told 12 Men Had Survived, Friends and Family Told Only One Is Alive
Jan. 4, 2006 —
Family members and friends of 12 men who died in a mine collapse in West Virginia are furious with officials for what is being called a "miscommunication."
Late last night, West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin announced that 11 or 12 of the miners who had been trapped by a blast early Monday morning had survived, triggering widespread jubilation in the close-knit mining community of Tallmansville. The local Baptist church where families and friends were gathered became filled with song, laughter and elation.
Three hours later, another announcement came from Ben Hatfield, chief executive officer for the mine's owner International Coal Group Inc.: Only one man had survived.
The sole survivor, Randal McCloy, 27, was the youngest of the miners. He was rushed to the hospital, where he is now reportedly in critical condition. He cannot talk, but has been making noises and moaning, said his father-in-law, Charles Green.
"They checked him. He don't have no carbon monoxide in his bloodstream," said Green, whose daughter, Anna, has been with McCloy since they were teenagers. They have two children, a 1-year-old daughter and a 4-year-old son.
A 'Miscommunication'
Somehow, there was an awful miscommunication: Rescuers had not confirmed that 12 were alive, but that 12 were found and that they were being checked for vital signs.
"They didn't have any certainties, and the time has elapsed because they were trying to get more information before giving information that was wrong or erroneous," said Manchin, about why the families were not given accurate information right after the mistake was made.
Hatfield blamed the wrong information on a "miscommunication."
The rescue effort proved to be quite complex and layered. Word had to travel between several rescue teams and several levels of company administration before finally making it to the worried families.
In the end, the miners who perished -- most of them middle-age -- likely were simply exposed to carbon monoxide for too long.
As they were trained to do, the miners had constructed a barrier to block deadly carbon monoxide gas. The bodies were recovered near the air hole drilled early on Tuesday in an attempt to reach them.
Each miner carried a breathing apparatus that was designed to supply oxygen in the even of a disaster.
"Despite the overwhelming grief the community feels," Manchin said, "let's remember we do have one miracle and we're thankful for that."
Furious Family Members
Family members are demanding answers.
"I call this injustice," said Ann Meredith, a relative of a miner. "I will tell you right here now, I am going to sue."
The sadness turned to rage with some of the community members turning on officials. There were reports of fistfights. A SWAT team and about 12 state police officers waited nearby. A Red Cross volunteer, Tamila Swiger, said some people were experiencing nervous breakdowns and panic attacks.
"Tell us our families are coming out alive and then one of them comes out and the rest of them dead," said Daniele Bennett, whose father was killed in the mine. "That's not even right."
"I mean the whole church rejoiced -- that was when they had 11 survivors," said Green, the lone survivor's father-in-law. "When they came back in and they announced my son-in-law, I was still devastated. My heart -- my whole family's heart -- goes out to them."
Manchin, who lost friends and his uncle in a 1968 West Virginia mining accident, said that the miscommunication between rescuers and state and company officials was terrible, but not anyone's fault.
"They knew the odds that were against us -- and with that to have the ending as it did, with this high euphoria," he said. "To put blame on anyone would be wrong, it truly would be."
The wife and I were watching CNN live when this happened last night. Anderson Cooper was interviewing someone when a woman ran up and yelled, "they're all dead! The CEO lied! He Lied!"
Wow, that sucks, but the CEO didn't "lie." Do they really think he said," we'll just tell them they're alive--they'll never know the difference."
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It sounds like chaos and wishful thinking got the best of them. I feel bad for the families and understand the frustration. It just seems like the information as it changed hands got more optomistic with each passing. I didn't expect the one to be alive really.
I feel so badly for all the family members, friends, etc., and I can't even begin to fathom how I would react to having been told they're alive and then find out they aren't, but it seems to me a lot of people are focusing on that, and are SO angry about it. I would think they'd be more angry about the unsafe conditions they were working in. The misunderstanding about the status of the people trapped is not what killed them, yet it seems some people are so angry that you would think it was. I hope they can find some peace somehow, and can focus their attention on what really deserves it: the conditions they worked in, and how much of that could have been prevented. This is going to be extremely interesting as more details come out.
Yeah, the news broke in the football game last night and said they were alive, then the news changed. So I guess they found them, and that was interpreted as they were alive. That's a long time to be underground, and it amazing even one of them is alive, but it doesn't sound like he's doing that good.
From media reports I've heard, the people in charge knew for three hours after the fact they reported 12 being alive that all 12 of them were dead. They let those families believe for three hours that everything looked like it was going to be okay.
I also understand from what I read that the CEO did not confirm anything about the condition of the miners.
It's a horrible, horrible thing. The miscommunication just made it even worse.
I remember when they had the mine cave-in a few years ago in PA. Everyone made it out. I was praying that would happen this time.
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Sometimes you just gotta remember ...
It saddens me that the information was incorrect, but to say "This is an injustice, I'm going to sue!" is just flat out ridiculous.
My mom already told me my opinion is heartless, but I dont see how getting mad at the rescuers/communication center is going to help anything. I dont blame them for waiting on the news until they could confirm everything. I would want a straight answer.
Anyway, my heart goes out to the families of the miners, and I hope the lone surviving miner makes a full recovery.
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I remember reading stories on Foxnews last night after they were allegedly found alive. There was a secondary story that said that the company could not confirm that the miners were actually alive. Sounds like they didn't have all the information yet. Either way, someone goofed.
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Originally Posted by HeavyB3
I wasn't serious in my post.. I don't really give a crap.
I kinda agree, Kate. If the families want to sue because equipment was faulty or because management knowing put its workers at risk (other than the obvious risks that mining involves) then okay. Suing because someone messed up and said the wrong thing, well, that opens up a ton of lawsuits all over the place.
BTW, did anyone else's local papers get this wrong (mainly because of timing)? Headline of our county paper was "12 Miners Found Alive."
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Sometimes you just gotta remember ...
I was watching CNN and they were interviewing a relative of one of the victims and she starts saying "we're going to explore our options with our lawyers"
I was thinking, geeze, you just found out your relative is dead and you have already retained a lawyer? People are too money hungry, there are inherent risks involved in mining operations so I don't see how a wrongful death suit can be filed. It would be like a lifeguard's family suing because he drowned
I heard that the screw up came via an old fashioned game of telephone. Apparently someone said that they found the 12, and were checking for vital signs and it got misinterpreted as "checking vital signs" indicating they were alive. I think that any lawsuites that show up for miscomunication should be thrown out as frivelous.
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Originally Posted by HeavyB3
I wasn't serious in my post.. I don't really give a crap.
I think the "I am going to sue" comment was taken out of context. The article I read made it sound as though she was suing due to the working conditions, not the miscommunication.
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