Officials: 1 miner dead, 1 missing in Ky. accident

PROVIDENCE, Ky. (AP) — One miner died and another was missing after a roof collapse at an underground coal mine with a long history of safety problems, officials said Thursday.

U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration spokeswoman Amy Louviere said the miner who died was still trapped under rock and he couldn't be identified. Efforts continue to locate the second miner. Providence is about 150 miles west of Louisville.

Gov. Steve Beshear said emergency crews had reached the site of the collapse, about four miles from the entrance to the Dotiki mine, and were "within an arm's length" of the man when the roof became unstable and they had to retreat, Beshear said.

"About that time, the roof started moving again," he said. "Rocks started falling again. And they had to pull back."

Beshear identified the two miners as Justin Travis, 27, of Dixon, and Michael Carter, 28 of Hanson.

Workers were trying to shore up the roof so they could return to the collapse site, Beshear said.