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Father & Son Sentenced for Deadly Mine Accident

Father & Son Sentenced for Deadly Mine Accident - Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at 5:43PM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Wednesday, Nov 4, 2009 @ 05:43pm EST
POTTSVILLE, SCHUYLKILL COUNTY - Two men have been sentenced in connection with a deadly mining accident in Schuylkill County. Prosecutors say the case is historic. It's the first time people have been successfully prosecuted in Pennsylvania for a mining death.

The two suspects are father and son. David and Steven Zimmerman were the owner and foreman of the Buck Mountain Mine in Tremont Township. The explosion happened in October 2006. Worker Dale Reightler was killed.

Steven Zimmerman was sentenced to between three and 23 months in prison.

Steven's father David will spend six months on house arrest and 17 months on probation.

"It's the first time in the history of Pennsylvania that a coal mining fatality has resulted in a conviction for a homicide-involuntary manslaughter, so it is historic," Chief Deputy Attorney General Glenn Parno said.

Family members of the victim were in court Wednesday. They did not want to talk on-camera after the sentencing, but in court, they said the punishment doesn't ease their pain. They said they still go home to an empty house.

"We are pleased that it has finally come to a conclusion and a very good conclusion from the victim's point of view," Parno said.

Both of the suspects pleaded no contest to the most serious charge against them, involuntary manslaughter. Prosecutors say the men allowed dangerous conditions in their mine and didn't follow safety procedures.

"Hopefully it sends a message to other mine operators that they have to follow the rules and they can't cut corners so we can avoid tragedies like these in the future," Parno said.

A third man was also charged in the mining death. Jeffrey Klinger of Tremont already pleaded guilty to charges and was sentenced to 60 days probation.
 


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