Coal Baron Dies In Helicopter Crash

Charleston, WV — Chris Cline, a West Virginia native who built a coal empire and a reputation for charitable giving, has died Thursday along with one of his children and five other people in a helicopter crash in the Bahamas. Brian Glasser, Cline’s attorney and long-time friend, said also killed in the crash was Cameron Cline, one of Cline’s daughters, who recently graduated from LSU. Glasser said the other victims include the helicopter pilot, David Jude, who was from Kermit, West Virginia and a friend of Cline’s. The other victims are believed to be family friends. Cline, who grew up in Brenton, Wyoming County, was 60. He would have had his 61st birthday on Friday.