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As Trump sings coal’s praises, mine fatalities are on the rise

Ray Hatfield Jr. was six months into his latest coal job when he was crushed to death in a Kentucky mine. Hatfield, a 23-year industry veteran, was cleaning a conveyor belt that shuttled coal to the surface of the Appalachian mine on the morning of Jan. 26. When his clothing got caught, he was pulled into the machine and killed. Hatfield, 42, left behind a wife and three kids.