Driver says coal road ruts caused injury

CHARLESTON – A Kanawha County man is suing over claims he was injured when his truck hit a rut on a coal mine road.

Charles Young filed a lawsuit Oct. 31 in Kanawha Circuit Court against: Penn Virginia Coal Company, now known as Penn Virginia Operating Co.; Briar Mountain Coal & Coke Company; Republic Energy Inc.; Hazy Ridge Coal Company; Elk Run Coal Company Inc.; and Alex Energy Inc., citing negligence.

According to the complaint, Young was working as a coal truck driver for Medford Trucking on Nov. 5, 2012, when he was instructed to go to the defendants' mine on Cabin Creek Road to pick up and haul coal pursuant to a contract Medford had with the defendants. Young says he had to drive on roads constructed and maintained by the defendants, and his truck hit a large rut or rock on the road, which caused an injury to his back. The defendants are accused of negligence in failing to maintain the road or warn users of the dangerous condition.

Young seeks damages including lost wages, impairment of earning capacity, interest and costs.

He is represented by attorney Jeffrey T. Jones of Charleston. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge James C. Stucky.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 14-C-1957