Fatal Colorado Gold Mine Elevator Mishap

Twelve people were rescued Thursday night after being trapped for six hours at the bottom of a former Colorado gold mine when an elevator malfunctioned, killing one person, authorities said.
The incident occurred at the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine, a tourist site near Cripple Creek.
According to Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell, the elevator was descending into the mine when it suffered a mechanical issue about 500 feet below the surface.
The mishap created what Mikesell described as a “severe danger for the participants,” leading to the death of one person. The sheriff declined to reveal the identity of the person who died.
The twelve adults were trapped about 1,000 feet below ground. Despite the dire situation, they had access to water, and the atmosphere underground was deemed safe. They were in contact with authorities via radios while awaiting rescue.
Mikesell said the group remained in good spirits and, after being brought to safety, were provided pizza and briefed on the full details of the incident. While they were trapped, they were only told there was an elevator problem.
The cause of the elevator malfunction remains unknown, and an investigation is underway. Engineers worked to ensure the elevator’s safe operation before using it to transport the group back to the surface.
Rescuers were prepared to use ropes if they were not successful in repairing the elevator. The incident, which was first reported around noon, took place during the final week of the mine’s tourist season before its winter closure.
Newsweek has reached out to the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine for comment via email.
Earlier in the day, another group of 11 people had been rescued from the same elevator. Four of them sustained minor injuries, though Sheriff Mikesell did not elaborate on how they were hurt.
The elevator typically takes two minutes to complete its descent, traveling at a rate of about 500 feet per minute, according to the mine’s website.
The last known incident at the mine occurred in the 1980s, when a few people were trapped in the elevator, but no fatalities were reported then.
Mines operating as tourist attractions in Colorado are required by the state to have a designated person inspect the mines and transportation systems daily, according to the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety. Sheriff Mikesell did not know when the last inspection took place, and online inspection records were not immediately available.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis sent state resources to assist with the rescue, including a mine rescue team. Cripple Creek, a small town of about 1,100 people, is located in the Rocky Mountains, southwest of Colorado Springs.
The Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine opened in the late 1800s and operated until 1961, but it continues to run tours for visitors.
The mine’s website offers a description of the tour, which includes a 1,000-foot descent and a chance to view gold veins in the rock. The site is named after Mollie Kathleen Gortner, who discovered the mine in 1891.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press