Twelve people rescued from former gold mine after elevator malfunction

An elevator failure at a former gold mine and current tourist attraction resulted in on fatality and stranded 12 people underground for about seven hours before rescue teams were able to free them from the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine in Cripple Creek, CO on Oct. 10.

The Denver Post reported the emergency crews were able to use the elevator to free the people trapped in the mine. Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell said at a briefing that it was not clear how or why the elevator malfunctioned while carrying the tourists.

One person died during the initial elevator malfunction, but Mikesell declined to provide more details until he could speak to their family.
Four people in the elevator sustained minor injuries and reported neck, back and arm pain and were treated by paramedics, he said.

The mine elevator experienced a mechanical issue when it was about 500 feet deep in the mine, causing “severe danger” for those on board, he said.

Emergency crews used the elevator to bring the 11 people on board to the surface soon after the malfunction, but officials needed to make sure the equipment was safe before using the elevator again to bring up the 12 people still at the bottom of the mine shaft, Mikesell said.

The group was able to communicate with emergency crews by radio, but they were not told the extent of the problem with the elevator until they were rescued, Mikesell said.

First responders also had other rescue options available, including using ropes and harnesses to lift people out of the mine.

Mikesell did not know the last time the elevator was inspected and said that would be part of the investigation, but added this is the only safety issue he’s aware of at the mine since 1986.

State law requires tourist mines to conduct daily safety inspections, including to elevators, ventilation, and possible electrical and mine hazards, according to the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety.

The now-defunct mine offers hourlong tours by taking visitors 1,000 feet down the shaft into the southwest side of Pikes Peak, according to the tour company’s website.

The mine has offered tours in some format since it opened in the 1890s, with mine tours becoming the main focus after production ceased in 1961.

 Photo source: www.goldminetours.com