GRAFTON, W.Va. (AP) \u2014 A coal miner died Friday, nearly a week after being injured on the job in northern West Virginia, officials said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Colton Walls, 34, of Bruceton Mills, was injured while working as a longwall electrician at the underground Leer Mining Complex operated by Arch Resources in Grafton, Gov. Jim Justice said in a statement. According to the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration, the incident happened Sept. 28.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Walls is survived by his wife, Jonda, and three children, Justice said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe heart and soul of West Virginia are found in our coal miners, and today, we grieve the loss of one of our own,\u201d the governor said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The statement did not disclose further details about the accident, which is under investigation by MSHA and the state Office of Miners\u2019 Health Safety and Training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was the fifth<\/u><\/a> reported coal fatality<\/u><\/a> of the year in West Virginia and the 10th nationally, according to MSHA. There were nine such U.S. deaths last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In August, Arch Resources and Consol Energy announced they are combining<\/u><\/a> to form a single coal producer valued at more than $5 billion, marking the latest consolidation in a deal-happy energy sector<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n