Three charged with involuntary manslaughter in mine explosions.
From Staff Reports
04/11/2008
The state Attorney General's Office has filed involuntary manslaughter charges against the owner and operator of R&D Coal Company, as well as two others, in connection to two mine explosions at the Buck Mountain Mine, Tremont Township, that injured two miners and killed one.
A grand jury found that mine owner and operator David Zimmerman, 52, of Pine Grove, and mine foreman, Steven Zimmerman, 32, of Pine Grove, allowed dangerous conditions to exist at the Buck Mountain Mine, resulting in the explosion on Dec. 1, 2004, in which two miners were seriously injured, and another explosion on Oct. 23, 2006, in which miner Dale Reightler was killed.
David Zimmerman and Steven Zimmerman are both charged with involuntary manslaughter, causing or risking a catastrophe, recklessly endangering another person, obstruction of justice and criminal conspiracy, and violation of the Anthracite Coal Mine Act. David Zimmerman was also charged with tampering with evidence.
Additionally, miner Jeffrey Klinger, 42, Tremont, who detonated the blast which killed Reightler, was charged with involuntary manslaughter, causing or risking a catastrophe, recklessly endangering another person, and violations of the Anthracite Coal Mine Act. The grand jury concluded Klinger did not follow proper safety procedures prior to detonating the shot that lead to Reightler's death.
All three individuals were arraigned Tuesday before Magisterial District Judge Carol Pankake, and were released on $50,000 unsecured bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 24.
|