1 dead, 12 rescued after elevator accident at former Colorado mine

DENVER (AP) — Twelve people were safely rescued Thursday evening after being trapped for hours at the bottom of a former gold mine in Colorado when an elevator at the tourist attraction malfunctioned, authorities said Thursday. One person was killed in the accident.

The elevator was descending into the Mollie Kathleen gold mine near the town of Cripple Creek when a mechanical problem occurred about 500 feet (150 meters) below the surface, posing a “significant hazard to participants” and killing one person. said Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell said at a press conference.

The twelve captured adults were approximately 305 meters underground. They were safe and communicated with authorities while they waited and were in good spirits after being rescued, Mikesell said.

The officers gave them pizza while they were outside and told them everything that happened. While they were downstairs, the authorities had simply told them that there was a problem with the elevator.

Mikesell said during a late-night briefing that authorities did not yet know what caused the disturbance and that an investigation was underway. Technicians made sure the elevator was working safely again before taking the stuck visitors back up.

He declined to reveal the victim's identity.

The incident occurred in the final week of the season before the site closed for the winter, Mikesell said.

The elevator accident was reported to authorities around noon, the sheriff said.

Eleven people riding the elevator were initially rescued, Mikesell said. Four suffered minor injuries. The sheriff did not say how they were injured or what the elevator's mechanical problems were.

During the ordeal, authorities communicated with the trapped group via radio. They had access to water and the atmosphere was considered good.

Among those trapped was a member of the family mining company who has experience in mine rescue, Mikesell said.

According to the mine's website, the elevator ride typically takes about two minutes and moves about 500 feet (152 meters) per minute.

Mikesell said the last incident occurred in the 1980s, but did not say what happened.

Mines that operate as tourist attractions in Colorado are required to designate someone to inspect the mines and transportation systems daily, according to the state Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety. Mikesell said he did not know the date of the last inspection. Records of the inspections were not immediately available online.

Gov. Jared Polis previously said the state was sending resources, including a mine rescue team.

Cripple Creek is a town of about 1,100 residents in the Rocky Mountains southwest of Colorado Springs.

The mine opened in the 19th century and closed in 1961, but still offers tours. The website describes an hour-long tour in which visitors descend 1,000 feet. They say they can see gold veins in the rocks and ride the subway.

According to the company's website, a woman named Mollie Kathleen Gortner discovered the mine's location in 1891 when she saw quartz laced with gold.

Brown reported from Billings, Mont.