DENVER — Authorities revealed on Wednesday that the tragic elevator incident at a former gold mine in Colorado, which resulted in the death of tour guide Patrick Weier and trapped several tourists for hours, was due to “operator error.” The Teller County Sheriff’s Office shared these findings in a news release following the investigation into the events that unfolded on October 10, where Weier, 46, lost his life at the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine. Investigators confirmed that there were no equipment failures and that the mine adhered to state safety regulations.
The incident occurred as the elevator was making its descent into the mine, located in the mountainous region near Colorado Springs. Approximately 500 feet down, the operator on the surface experienced an unusual sensation and decided to halt the elevator’s movement, as stated by Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell during the initial investigation. Fortunately, the elevator remained functional, and those on board were successfully brought back to the surface within 20 minutes. However, a door on the elevator sustained damage during the recovery process.
Authorities noted that it was unclear whether the door malfunctioned on its own or if another issue arose. Sheriff Mikesell remarked on the complexities involved with the operation of such small elevators. As the investigation continued, it was confirmed that twelve adults from a separate group were trapped at the bottom of the mine, situated 1,000 feet underground, while engineers ensured that the elevator was safe to use.
Following the incident, Sheriff Mikesell maintained that Weier’s death resulted from a malfunction related to the elevator, rather than a medical emergency. The investigation has been officially classified as an accident, and it is now closed. However, details surrounding Weier’s death remain undisclosed; he was a resident of the nearby town of Victor and had a young child.
Lt. Renee Bunting, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office, did not provide any additional insights and instructed reporters to submit a records request for further information. The Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine, which was nearing the end of its tourist season during the incident, is expected to reopen for the upcoming tourist season, as stated by the sheriff’s office. Following the incident, state mining regulators had mandated that the mine remain closed until compliance with safety regulations could be assured.
Although it is uncertain when exactly the mine will resume operations, its website, which features a tribute photograph of Weier and a link to a fundraising campaign for his son, indicated that it remains closed indefinitely as of Thursday. There was no response to phone inquiries at the mine.
