Fatal accident in Colorado gold mine elevator

Twelve people were rescued Thursday evening after being trapped for six hours deep inside 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 encountered a mechanical problem about 500 feet below the surface.

The accident created what Mikesell described as “serious danger to participants,” resulting in the death of one person. The sheriff refused to release the identity of the deceased.

The twelve adults were trapped approximately 1,000 feet underground. Despite the dire situation, they had access to water and the underground atmosphere was considered safe. They were in contact with authorities by radio while waiting to be rescued.

Mikesell said the group remained in good spirits and, after being brought to safety, they were served pizza and informed of all the details of the incident. While they were stuck, they were only told that there was a problem with the elevator.

The cause of the elevator malfunction remains unknown and an investigation is underway. Engineers worked to ensure the safe operation of the elevator before using it to return the group to the surface.

Rescuers were prepared to use ropes if they were unable to repair the elevator. The incident, first reported around noon, occurred during the final week of the mine’s tourist season before its winter closure.

News week Goldmine has contacted Mollie Kathleen for comment via email.

Earlier in the day, another group of 11 people were rescued from the same elevator. Four of them suffered minor injuries, although Sheriff Mikesell did not say how they were injured.

The elevator typically takes two minutes to complete its descent, traveling at a speed 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 deaths were reported at that time.

The state requires mines operated as tourist attractions in Colorado to have mines and transportation systems inspected daily by a designated person, 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 Governor Jared Polis sent state resources to assist in 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 provide tours for visitors.

The mine’s website offers a description of the tour, which includes a 1,000-foot descent and the chance to view veins of gold in the rock. The site is named for Mollie Kathleen Gortner, who discovered the mine in 1891.

This article includes reporting from the Associated Press