Equality miner killed at Hamilton County No. 1 mine

EQUALITY - An Equality mineworker died over the weekend after an apparent accident inside Hamilton County Coal's No. 1 mine near Dahlgren.

John D. Ditterline, 55, of Equality, was pronounced dead at 4:45 a.m. Saturday at Hamilton Memorial Hospital in McLeansboro.

He was discovered at about 3:30 a.m. Saturday, apparently suffering a fatal injury when he was caught between a material door and the rib while attempting to open an access door in the material door itself.

Ditterline was employed by S & L Industries of Clay, Kentucky, which in turn was performing work for Hamilton County Coal. On the S & L company's Facebook page, they confirmed his passing.

"It's with a sad heart that I have to report that at approximately 3:20 a.m. this morning a fatality occurred in our company," the post reads. " ... John had been with the company only couple of months and was an excellent employee.

"Please keep John's family in your thoughts and prayers."

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Jan. 9 at Vickery Funeral Chapel in Equality. A visitation will begin at 3 p.m. with the service starting at 6 p.m. Click on the Obituaries tab to read the full obituary.