A miner died while welding at a surface mine site in Leslie County on Saturday morning.

Jerry A. Watts, 52, of Slemp in Perry County, was welding on the liner of a bulldozer blade when a jack slipped and the liner hit him on the head, according to a news release from the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet.

The accident, which occurred at the Begley No. 1 mine at Short Creek, was reported at 11:15 a.m. T&T Energy owns the mine.

On Monday, investigators from the Kentucky Office of Mine Safety and Licensing will interview other employees who were there.

It was the first mining-related accident of the year in Kentucky, according to the release.

Karla Ward: (859) 231-3314. Twitter: @HLpublicsafety