BY JESSE BEDAYN AND MATTHEW BROWN
DENVER (AP) — One person was killed and 12 people were rescued after being trapped for about six hours at the bottom of a former Colorado gold mine when an elevator malfunctioned at the tourist site, authorities said.
The elevator was descending into the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine near the town of Cripple Creek when it had a mechanical problem around 500 feet (152 meters) beneath the surface, creating a “severe danger for the participants,” Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell said.
The cause of the vistor's death was not immediately provided.
The 12 adults who were trapped about 1,000 feet (305 meters) below ground had access to water and used radios to communicate with authorities, who told them there was an elevator issue, Mikesell said.
Mikesell said during a nighttime briefing that authorities do not know yet what caused the malfunction and an investigation is underway. Engineers worked to make sure the elevator was working safely again before bringing the stranded visitors back up on it. They had been prepared to bring them up by rope if necessary, had they not been able to get the elevator fixed.
Mikesell declined to reveal the identification of the victim.
The incident, which was reported to authorities at about noon, happened during the final week of the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine season before it shuts down for the winter, Mikesell said.
Earlier in the afternoon, while the 12 were stuck at the bottom, 11 other people who were riding the elevator were rescued. Four had minor injuries but the sheriff did not elaborate on how they were injured.
The elevator ride typically takes about two minutes, travelling about 500 feet (152 meters) per minute, according to the mine’s website.
Mikesell said the last time there was an incident was in the 1980s when a couple of people were trapped on the elevator. Nobody died in that incident.
Mines that operate as tourist attractions in Colorado must designate someone to inspect the mines and the transportation systems daily, according to the state Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety. Mikesell said he didn’t know the date of the last inspection. Records of the inspections weren’t immediately available online.
Gov. Jared Polis sent state resources including a mine rescue team.
Cripple Creek is a town of about 1,100 in the Rocky Mountains southwest of Colorado Springs.
The mine opened in the 1800s and closed in 1961, but still operates tours. Its website describes a one-hour tour in which visitors descend 1,000 feet (305 meters). It says they can see veins of gold in the rock and ride an underground tram.
A woman named Mollie Kathleen Gortner discovered the site of the mine in 1891 when she saw quartz laced with gold, according to the company’s website.
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DENVER (AP) — Twelve people were safely rescued Thursday night after being trapped for hours at the bottom of a former Colorado gold mine when an elevator malfunctioned at the tourist site, authorities said Thursday. One person died in the accident.
The elevator was descending into the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine near the town of Cripple Creek when it had a mechanical problem around 500 feet (150 meters) beneath the surface, creating a “severe danger for the participants,” and one person was killed, Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell said at a press conference.
The twelve adults who were trapped were about 1,000 feet (305 meters) below ground. They were safe and in communication with authorities while waiting, and were in good spirits after they were rescued, Mikesell said.
Authorities gave them pizza once they were out and told them everything that had happened. While at the bottom, authorities had only told them there was an elevator issue.
Mikesell said during a nighttime briefing that authorities do not know yet what caused the malfunction and an investigation is underway. Engineers worked to make sure the elevator was working safely again before bringing the stranded visitors back up.
He declined to reveal the identification of the victim.
The incident happened during the final week of the site’s season before it shuts down for the winter, Mikesell said.
The elevator accident was reported to authorities at about noon, the sheriff said.
Eleven people who were riding the elevator were rescued initially, Mikesell said. Four had minor injuries. The sheriff did not elaborate on how they were injured or the nature of the elevator's mechanical problems.
During the ordeal, authorities communicated with the trapped group with radios. They had access to water, and the atmosphere was considered good.
Among those trapped was a member of the family mining operation who has mine rescue experience, Mikesell said.
The elevator ride typically takes about two minutes, travelling about 500 feet (152 meters) per minute, according to the mine’s website.
Mikesell said the last time there was an incident was in the 1980s but did not say what had happened.
Mines operated as tourist attractions in Colorado must designate someone to inspect the mines and the transportation systems daily, according to the state Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety. Mikesell said he didn’t know the date of the last inspection. Records of the inspections weren’t immediately available online.
Gov. Jared Polis said earlier that the state was sending resources including a mine rescue team.
Cripple Creek is a town of about 1,100 in the Rocky Mountains southwest of Colorado Springs.
The mine opened in the 1800s and closed in 1961, but still operates tours. Its website describes a one-hour tour in which visitors descend 1,000 feet. It says they can see veins of gold in the rock and ride an underground tram.
A woman named Mollie Kathleen Gortner discovered the site of the mine in 1891 when she saw quartz laced with gold, according to the company’s website.
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DENVER (AP) — One person was killed and officials were working to rescue 12 others trapped deep beneath the surface of a former Colorado gold mine after an elevator malfunctioned at the tourist site, authorities said Thursday.
The elevator descending into the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine near the town of Cripple Creek had a mechanical problem around 500 feet (152 meters) beneath the surface, creating a “severe danger for the participants” and one person was killed, Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell said at a press conference.
Twelve people were still at the bottom of the mine, about 1,000 feet (305 meters) beneath the surface. They were safe and in communication with authorities, said Mikesell. Rescuers were working to get the elevator back online.
The elevator accident was reported to authorities at about noon, the sheriff said. He declined to identify the victim or say how they died. Two children were involved but it was unclear if they were among those who were trapped.
Eleven people who were riding the elevator were rescued, Mikesell said. Four had minor injuries. The sheriff did not elaborate on how they were injured or the nature of the elevator's mechanical problems.
The sheriff said authorities could rescue the trapped group by rope if necessary, but were hoping to get the elevator system safely working and to resolve the situation Thursday night.
“We want to inspect it, make sure it’s safe before bringing them back up with it,” Mikesell said. “We do have a plan B and a plan C already set in place with rescue officers.”
The state was sending an elevator expert to the scene.
Authorities were communicating with the trapped group with radios, but the group had not been told the extent of the problem with the elevator, according to Mikesell, who added, “That’s because I want to keep people calm.” The group had access to water and the atmosphere was considered good.
Among those trapped was a member of the family mining operation who has mine rescue experience, Mikesell said.
Responders were trying to assess if the damage done to the elevator could lead to another failure before they send it back down. The elevator ride typically takes about two minutes, travelling about 500 feet (152 meters) per minute, according to the mine’s website.
Mikesell said the last time there was an incident was in the 1980s but did not say what had happened.
Mines operated as tourist attractions in Colorado must designate someone to inspect the mines and the transportation systems daily, according to the state Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety. Mikesell said he didn’t know the date of the last inspection. Records of the inspections weren’t immediately available online.
Gov. Jared Polis said the state was sending resources, including a mine rescue team.
“We will do everything possible and assist the county to ensure a speedy and safe resolution of the situation,” Polis said in a statement.
Cripple Creek is a town of about 1,100 people located in the Rocky Mountains southwest of Colorado Springs.
The mine opened in the 1800s and closed in 1961, but still operates tours. Its website describes a one-hour tour in which visitors descend 1,000 feet into the earth. It says they can see veins of gold in the rock and ride an underground tram.
A woman named Mollie Kathleen Gortner discovered the site of the mine in 1891 when she saw quartz laced with gold, according to the company’s website.