Fred Layman Jr., 40, of Ellenboro, was killed Tuesday afternoon after an accident at a natural gas well in the Bunner Ridge area of Marion County. He was working for Ronald Lane Incorporated.
According to authorities on scene, the company was running a “pig” through a line to remove water or pressure, and the equipment malfunctioned. A piece of the apparatus struck the man in the head, killing him.
The accident happened on private property about 600 yards off North Bunner Ridge Road.
The Bunner Ridge Volunteer Fire Department, the Marion County Rescue Squad and West Virginia State Police responded to the scene. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will handle the investigation.
OSHA has six months to complete the investigation to see if the the company was in violation of any safety policies at the time of the accident.
According to OSHA, West Virginia is located in region 3 for OSHA and the area has an emphasis on oil and gas work safety due to the high number of injuries and fatalities.
