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CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A Massey Energy contractor has been cited for poor maintenance and the lack of safety checks in the February death of a coal truck driver at Massey's Republic Energy Surface Mine near Mossy.

Medford Trucking LLC was cited by the state Office of Miners Health, Safety and Training in the Feb. 6, 2009, death of William Wade, 70, of Charleston, according to an investigation report released Tuesday.

Wade was killed when he lost control of his truck on the downhill portion of the Cabin Creek haulroad for the mine, which is located along the Fayette-Kanawha County line.

According to investigators, Wade began driving down the grade -- with an average slope of 6 degrees -- and passed an empty coal truck going in the opposite direction. The driver of that truck said Wade appeared to be in full control of his vehicle when the two passed.

But as the other driver continued up the hill, he heard Wade on the radio saying he was having problems with his truck. Then, Wade radioed that he was "losing his engine and having brake problems."

Wade then told another driver to "get out of the way," before his truck went off the left side of the road, went part way up a steep embankment, and then overturned, investigators found. Co-workers discovered Wade pinned beneath the truck's cab. The truck was lifted off him, and he was taken to a Charleston hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10:38 a.m.

Investigators found that a brake hose on the truck was bypassed, limiting the ability of the brakes to stop the truck. Also, four of six brake drums were worn out, investigators said.

State officials also cited Medford Trucking because its employees were using pre-operational safety inspection forms that did not cover all of the items that needed to be examined on coal trucks. Investigators also reported that Wade was not wearing a seat belt, and was ejected from the cab when it wrecked.

@tag:Reach Ken Ward Jr. at kw...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1702.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A Massey Energy contractor has been cited for poor maintenance and the lack of safety checks in the February death of a coal truck driver at Massey's Republic Energy Surface Mine near Mossy.

Medford Trucking LLC was cited by the state Office of Miners Health, Safety and Training in the Feb. 6, 2009, death of William Wade, 70, of Charleston, according to an investigation report released Tuesday.

Wade was killed when he lost control of his truck on the downhill portion of the Cabin Creek haulroad for the mine, which is located along the Fayette-Kanawha County line.

According to investigators, Wade began driving down the grade -- with an average slope of 6 degrees -- and passed an empty coal truck going in the opposite direction. The driver of that truck said Wade appeared to be in full control of his vehicle when the two passed.

But as the other driver continued up the hill, he heard Wade on the radio saying he was having problems with his truck. Then, Wade radioed that he was "losing his engine and having brake problems."

Wade then told another driver to "get out of the way," before his truck went off the left side of the road, went part way up a steep embankment, and then overturned, investigators found. Co-workers discovered Wade pinned beneath the truck's cab. The truck was lifted off him, and he was taken to a Charleston hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10:38 a.m.

Investigators found that a brake hose on the truck was bypassed, limiting the ability of the brakes to stop the truck. Also, four of six brake drums were worn out, investigators said.

State officials also cited Medford Trucking because its employees were using pre-operational safety inspection forms that did not cover all of the items that needed to be examined on coal trucks. Investigators also reported that Wade was not wearing a seat belt, and was ejected from the cab when it wrecked.

@tag:Reach Ken Ward Jr. at kw...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1702.