BRILLIANT – An investigation is underway into the weekend death of a mine supervisor at a worksite near Brilliant off Ohio 7.

OhioAmerican Energy Inc. identified Walter Ralph McAfee, age 55, of Jewett, as the employee who was fatally injured on Saturday in an accident at the company’s Redbird West surface and highwall mining complex near Brilliant.

The accident occurred when McAfee was pinned between two pieces of equipment. No other employees were injured as a result of the accident.

As the coordinator of highwall miner operations at the Redbird West operation, McAfee was a highly respected and valued employee of OhioAmerican, where he worked for six and a half years, mine officials said, noting that the most sincere condolences are extended by the company and all of its employees to McAfee’s family and friends.

The accident is still under investigation by OhioAmerican, the federal Mine Safety & Health Administration and the Ohio Division of Mine Safety.

OhioAmerican Energy Inc. and the Redbird West mine are operations of Murray Energy Corp.

Opened in mid-2007, the mine uses a specialized system to remove coal from the highwall of an older strip mine, as well as regular surface mining methods.