Details have been released on an explosion at Paradise Mine #9 in Muhlenberg County from Wednesday afternoon that killed a worker.
Officials with the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet say that at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, 62-year old Richard L. Knapp, a welder/iron worker for Fricke Management & Contracting of Murphysboro, Illinois, was constructing a form which would be used to fill a mine shaft with concrete, part of an effort to seal and close the mine.
A methane gas explosion in the shaft caused Knapp to fall to his death and efforts to recover his body continued through Thursday.
It was announced the mine would be idled in February, but some personnel remained at the site to take the mine out of service. Paradise Mine #9 had been operated by KenAmerican Resources, Inc.