Frantic search is on for three people missing inside a nonoperational coal mine in West Virginia after a fourth managed to get out and alert police
- Three people are missing in the underground Rock House Powellton mine in Clear Creek, West Virginia
- They have been identified as Cody Beverly, 21; Kayla Williams, 25; and Erica Treadway, 31
- Eddie Williams, 43, was with the group but he managed to get out of the mine on Monday and alerted authorities to the missing three
- An ATV believed to have been driven by the group was found near entrance of the mine
- Rescue workers are removing water and pumping fresh air into the mine
Workers are removing water and pumping fresh air into a nonoperational coal mine in West Virginia as they search for three people stuck inside.
The state Office of Miner’s Health, Safety and Training said Tuesday that a man who emerged on his own from the underground Rock House Powellton mine in Clear Creek, West Virginia and provided details about the location of the three, who he said were alive.
The state said rescue teams explored the mine overnight, but came out Tuesday after oxygen reserves were depleted.
No coal has been extracted from the mine for two years.
Kayla Williams, 25, of Artie, West Virginia, is one of three people missing in a nonoperational West Virginia coal mine
Cody Beverly (left), 21, of Dorothy, West Virginia; and Erica Treadway (right) of Pax, West Virginia, have been identified as the other two missing people
Eddie Williams, 43, emerged from the mine on Monday and alerted authorities to the missing three
The state Office of Miner’s Health, Safety and Training said Tuesday that Eddie Williams emerged on his own from the underground Rock House Powellton mine in Clear Creek, West Virginia
State officials said the four people were reported missing late Saturday and an all-terrain vehicle they were believed to be riding was found near the mine in Clear Creek.
The three people believed to be trapped inside the mine have been identified as Cody Beverly, 21; Kayla Williams, 25; and Erica Treadway, 31.
Eddie Williams, 43, has been identified as the man who emerged from the mine on Monday and alerted authorities to the missing three.
Eddie Williams and Kayla Williams are from the town of Artie, West Virginia.
Treadway is from Pax, West Virginia. And Beverly is a resident of Dorothy, West Virginia.
State officials said the four people were reported missing late Saturday and an all-terrain vehicle they were believed to be riding was found near the mine in Clear Creek
Kayla Williams, Treadway, and Beverly were last seen alive in the early morning hours of Saturday, December 8, according to WVVA-TV.
West Virginia Governor Jim Justice met with the families of the three missing people.
‘These families, friends, and the entire community are really hurting and need to be in our prayer,’ said Justice.
‘We also need to keep the mine rescue teams in our prayers as they attempt to pull off this rescue.
‘Usually these things end up not very good, so we’ve still got some heavy lifting to get to some good outcome here, but we’ve got some good signs too.
‘Let’s just cling to that and hope and pray it works out.’