Mine collapse kills man

NEW SPRINGFIELD

A mine collapse left a 30-year-old worker dead Monday morning.

Jason Gudat, 30, of Washingtonville, was found inside a mine at the East Fairfield Coal-Subtropolis after the ceiling collapsed, reports state.

Police, fire and other emergency crews arrived just after 1:30 a.m. Monday at the East Garfield Road mine after someone called to report a worker was buried inside the mine. “It’s the first one I’ve seen since I started working here,” said Springfield Police Chief Matthew Mohn, who has been with the department for 19 years. “The only comment I have is it’s a tragic incident.”

Officials from East Fairfield Coal were unavailable to comment Monday afternoon. The Mahoning County Coroner’s office said the cause of death, ruled accidental, was multiple blunt-force injuries of the chest and abdomen as a result of falling rock.