A 39-year-old miner was killed Thursday by falling rock in northern West Virginia, the 43rd coal mining death this year nationwide.

The fatality occurred because of a "rib roll," or collapse of an underground mine wall, about noon at the Loveridge Mine near Fairview, W.Va. The mine is owned by Cecil-based Consol Energy.

In a statement, Consol said Jessie Adkins, of Belington, W.Va., was a roof bolter with seven years of experience who had worked at Loveridge for three years.

He died after coal and other materials from a section of the side of the mine entry collapsed and pinned him against a continuous mining machine. He was pronounced dead at Fairmont General Hospital. No other miners were injured.

Consol said Mr. Adkins is survived by a wife, Melissa, and two teenage children.

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