Kentucky miner killed by fallen ceiling in Tennessee mine

TAZEWELL, Tenn. - A coal miner from Kentucky has been killed after part of the ceiling fell in on him inside a Kopper Glo Fuel mine in Claiborne County, Tenn.

County Emergency Management Agency spokeswoman Ashley Hurley identified the victim as 32-year-old Jeremy Perkins of Wallins Creek, Ky. She said the accident happened between 4:30 a.m. and 6 a.m. Wednesday. No other miners were injured or trapped.

Federal mine safety investigators and state officials with the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration were on the scene by midmorning.

Tennessee Mining Association President Chuck Laine said the accident occurred in the company's deep mine in the Clairfield community, about 75 miles north of Knoxville.

Laine said this is the first time the company has had a fatality.

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