NICHOLAS COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A newly released summary from the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) reveals that Steve Lipscomb, a section foreman at the Rolling Thunder Mine in Nicholas County, lost his life within minutes of a sudden rush of water underground on Nov. 8.
The preliminary findings, outlined in a one-page report, indicate that water surged into the mine at approximately 12:30 p.m. Lipscomb, 42, was pronounced dead ten minutes later. His body was not recovered until Nov. 13, after floodwaters had receded enough for rescue teams to reenter the affected area.
24 Miners Underground at Time of Inundation
According to MSHA, 24 workers were in the mine—located near Drennen—when the flooding occurred. The crew had been operating in a section with a roof height just under six feet. Lipscomb, of Elkview, was overseeing the crew as the section foreman.
Mine owner Alpha Metallurgical Resources and colleagues have credited Lipscomb with helping others reach safety before he attempted to escape himself. His actions have been widely described as selfless and heroic.
Veteran Miner With Nearly Two Decades of Experience
The federal report notes that Lipscomb had spent 19 years and one day working in the coal industry. While he had been with Alpha for much of his career, he had only been assigned to the Rolling Thunder Mine for a little more than three months before the incident.
Full Investigation Could Take Months
This document marks only MSHA’s initial overview. A complete investigative report—detailing the cause of the inundation and evaluating safety practices—is expected to take several months to complete.
The West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training is conducting its own separate investigation into the fatal accident.
