
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 21, 1994                   TAG: 9409230076
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-4   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WISE                                 LENGTH: Short

SOUTHMOUNTAIN MINE EXPLOSION VICTIMS' WIDOWS SUE

The widows of six men killed in the 1992 Southmountain mine explosion have each filed $6 million lawsuits against the coal company's owner, claiming its negligence led to the miners' deaths.

The six suits against Apple Coal Co. were filed in Wise County Circuit Court on Tuesday.

The plaintiffs are Loraine Owens, Linda S. Vanover, Elizabeth Mullins, Audrey L. Sturgill, Linda Sturgill and Eula Gay Carlton.

On Dec. 7, 1992, South- mountain Coal Mine No. 3 near Norton exploded, killing eight miners. Investigators have said a butane lighter ignited methane gas that had built up in the mine.

The suits name W. Jack Davis as the registered agent for Apple. He could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

The plaintiffs are the widows of Brian S. Owens, Norman D. Vanover, Mikell D. Mullins, Claude L. Sturgill, Palmer E. Sturgill and David K. Carlton.

Southmountain Coal Co., which operated the mine, and two of its officials admitted guilt last month in federal court in Roanoke in connection with the explosion. The company pleaded guilty to charges that included failure to conduct pre-shift examinations, failure to maintain safe ventilation systems and allowing miners to smoke underground.

by CNB