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Train topples building at W.Va. coal plant; 4 hurt

The Associated Press

WHARNCLIFFE, W.Va. — Four workers are injured after a freight train derailed at a West Virginia coal plant and caused a nearby building to collapse.

Authorities say the train’s conductor and two coal plant workers pulled from the wrecked building suffered minor injuries. A fourth worker had to be airlifted to a hospital with serious injuries.

The Norfolk Southern Corp. train was pulling up under loading equipment when it derailed and hit a support. The loading equipment collapsed and knocked down a building. Authorities did not immediately provide more details about the building.

The Black Bear Preparation Plant in southern West Virginia employs about 30 people. It belongs to a subsidiary of Abingdon, Va.-based coal producer Alpha Natural Resources.