19 Year Old West Virgina Oilfield Worker Killed In Well Site Accident

Sources: The Intelligencer and The Exponent Telegram

A man who was injured Thursday at a U.S. Well Service site in Tyler County has died, according to the Tyler County Sheriff’s Department.

Prentice Cline, area director for  Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s branch in Charleston, said Hunter D. Osborn, 19, of Jane Lew, W.Va., who sustained crushing injuries from the rear of a tractor trailer, was taken via medical helicopter to Ruby Memorial Hospital where he later died. Cline said the accident was reported at about 7:15 a.m. Thursday by workers at the well pad site located outside Middlebourne.

Employers are required to report all work-related fatalities within eight hours. OSHA is investigating.

“We’re trying to figure out and see what caused the accident and if there was any violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act,” Cline said.

Based out of Houston, Texas, U.S. Well Services operates in the Marcellus and Utica shale regions of Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania, according to the company’s website. The company provides high-pressure, hydraulic fracturing services in unconventional oil and natural gas basins, according to the company’s website.

U.S. Well Service’s fleets operate on a 24-hour basis at many active shale and unconventional natural gas basins across the country, according to the company’s website. The company started in the Mountain State in Jane Lew before it expanded in Pennsylvania and Ohio. Several fleets of trucks remain based in Jane Lew.

"U.S. Well Services is currently investigating a very unfortunate accident that occurred yesterday which resulted in the death of one of our employees," Human Resources Director Dean Fullerton said.

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of one of our co-workers and our thoughts and prayers are with the employee's family and friends during this difficult time. As the investigation is ongoing, we are not at liberty to say anything about the details of the incident at this time," Fullerton said.

The incident happened around 7 a.m. Thursday on the Hartley East Pad at 395 Ricky Run Road in Middlebourne, Huffman said.

In addition to the Tyler County Sheriff's Department, emergency crews from Middlebourne EMS, and members of the Alma, Shirley, Middlebourne and Pennsboro volunteer fire departments also responded to the scene.