A lawyer handling two wrongful-death lawsuits says evidence collected in the Upper Big Branch mine could be compromised because two Massey Energy managers were underground for nearly four hours after the deadly April blast.
Investigators have previously acknowledged the men were underground, but NPR is reporting new details. It says the men traveled 9 miles and were near the longwall mining machine considered a possible source of the blast.
NPR says Virginia-based Massey confirms the men stayed inside even after a federal order to leave.
Attorney Mark Moreland says that revelation casts a pall on all the evidence. He says the matter must be investigated and resolved.
Massey says the men were trying to rescue the 29 men who died.
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Information from: NPR, www.npr.org
