Robbins man fatally injured in accident
ROBBINS — A 66-year-old Robbins man was killed in a logging accident near here Monday afternoon.
The victim was identified as Russell Griffith, 66, of Robbins.
The accident occurred near the highest point of the Brimstone mountain range, near the recently-demolished West Coal Company coal washer, which is located near what is commonly referred to as Gobey Mountain.
According to Detective Tommy Silcox of the Scott County Sheriff’s Department, the accident occurred at quitting time, between 4 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday as crews were leaving the woods for the day.
Detective Silcox said that Griffith was catching a ride back to his vehicle on the front of a skidder, the massive machines used in timber operations to pull logs from the woods, when he slipped and fell into the path of the vehicle.
He died at the scene.
Griffith reportedly worked for his brother, Howard Griffith, who owns a timber cutting operation and sub-contracts for American Timber. American Timber contracts through Fountain Forestry, which manages the forestry practices on the property, owned by GMO Natural Resources.