A tragic incident occurred at the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine in Cripple Creek, Colorado, where one person lost their lives and 12 others were rescued after becoming trapped for approximately six hours due to an elevator malfunction. The elevator, which was descending to the mine’s depths, experienced a mechanical issue around 500 feet below ground, posing a significant danger to those inside, according to Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell.
While the cause of the victim’s death has not been disclosed, the 12 adults trapped about 1,000 feet underground were able to communicate with authorities via radio and had access to water. Mikesell stated that rescue teams informed them about the elevator problem. Engineers worked to ensure the elevator was safe before bringing the trapped individuals back to the surface. They had prepared to use ropes for a rescue if the elevator could not be fixed.
Authorities received reports of the incident around noon, coinciding with the mine’s final week of operation before its winter closure. Earlier that afternoon, 11 other visitors who had been riding the elevator were successfully rescued, with four sustaining minor injuries, though details about those injuries were not provided.
Two-minute ride turns into tragedy
The elevator ride typically lasts about two minutes, traveling at a speed of 500 feet per minute, according to the mine’s website. Mikesell noted that the last reported incident involving the elevator occurred in the 1980s, where individuals were trapped but no fatalities occurred.
In Colorado, tourist mines are required to have someone inspect their facilities and transportation systems daily. Mikesell stated he was unaware of the date of the last inspection, and inspection records were not immediately available online. Governor Jared Polis dispatched state resources, including a mine rescue team, to assist with the situation.
Cripple Creek, a small town in the Rocky Mountains southwest of Colorado Springs, is home to the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine, which opened in the 1800s and ceased operations in 1961 but continues to offer tours. According to the mine’s website, visitors can take a one-hour tour that includes a descent of 1,000 feet, where they can view gold veins in the rock and ride an underground tram. The mine was discovered in 1891 by Mollie Kathleen Gortner, who noticed quartz containing gold.
