Ash Leak at Coal Plant Injures 3 Workers

A Centertown, KY, power plant silo leaked coal ash, trapping one worker under a pile of the material on Wednesday, sending him and two others who tried to help him to a hospital.

The leak at D.B. Wilson Generating Station, operated by Big Rivers Electric Corp., caused dusty conditions around the plant and prompted police to divert traffic and warn motorists of low visibility.

Ohio County Sheriff Adam Wright said a valve inside the silo became stuck open. Three workers went to loosen the valve, and one became stuck under a coal ash pile during the repair. The other two escaped but returned to help him, Wright told local news WFIE-TV.

The plant’s emergency response team arrived and pulled the third worker out, and all three were sent to the hospital.

Wright said the condition of the three workers were not known Wednesday afternoon. The plant was back at full operation, however.

Federal and state officials were monitoring the air quality, and Wright said it was confirmed safe.

In August 2022, two workers lost their lives when they fell in a drainage collection system hole at the Big River Corp.'s Sebree Station in Hendersonville, KY. One was a company employee and the second, a contractor.