Joe Manchin actually said...
The one body that has been recovered was the one person that was left right there where the force of the blast came. And the 12, the tram was in perfect condition. It was on the tracks. There was no disturbance. There are no buckets. There is no anything, they would have gotten off and walked and taken everything with them.
Context
Joe Manchin discusses the recovery of one body and the condition of the tram, suggesting the miners may have escaped.
12/30/2006