A fatal underground accident at the Bailey Mine has left a Pennsylvania mining community in mourning after a worker was killed during a rockfall incident late Tuesday night.

Authorities confirmed that 34-year-old Zachary Wolfe of Rices Landing died after being struck by falling rock while working underground. The Greene County Coroner’s Office reported that Wolfe was pronounced dead at 11:39 p.m., shortly after the incident occurred around 11 p.m.

According to the Pennsylvania State Police, troopers were dispatched to the Crabapple Portal of the mine at approximately 11:21 p.m. following reports of a serious underground accident. Upon arrival, emergency personnel confirmed that a collapse had occurred in a working section of the mine, prompting an immediate rescue and recovery response.

Officials also reported that at least one additional worker was injured in the incident and was airlifted from the scene after sustaining a head injury. The Greene County Emergency Management Agency assisted in coordinating the response efforts alongside medical and rescue teams operating in challenging underground conditions.

The mine’s operator, Core Natural Resources, confirmed the fatality in a public statement and said it is fully cooperating with state and federal investigators. The company expressed deep sorrow over the loss, describing the incident as a devastating event for the workforce and the broader mining community. Officials noted that support is being provided to employees and the victim’s family as the investigation continues.

Investigators have not yet determined what caused the rockfall, and officials say the conditions underground will be carefully examined as part of a broader safety review. Structural stability, mining activity in the affected section, and equipment use are all expected to be evaluated as authorities work to reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to the collapse.

Mining incidents of this nature often involve complex geological and operational factors, and officials have emphasized that it will take time to establish a clear understanding of what occurred. Federal mine safety regulators are expected to join the ongoing investigation to assess compliance with safety standards and determine whether additional precautions could have prevented the tragedy.

As news of Wolfe’s death spread, the local mining community has been left grieving the loss of a worker described by colleagues as part of a close-knit and tightly connected workforce. In towns across Greene County, mining remains both a major industry and a shared identity, making the impact of such incidents deeply felt.

For now, operations in the affected area remain under review as investigators continue their work underground, and the community waits for answers while mourning a life lost in the line of duty.