CRIPPLE CREEK, Colo — One person is dead, four people have minor injuries and 12 people from a tour group are trapped at 1,000 feet underground after an elevator malfunction at a gold mine attraction in Cripple Creek, the Teller County Sheriff said.
Sheriff Jason Mikesell said the accident happened at the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine in Cripple Creek. An elevator trolley was about 500 feet underground when a malfunction occurred, Mikesell said. One person died.
Eleven other people on the elevator were able to get back above ground using the elevator system, Mikesell said. Four of those people suffered minor injuries.
A dozen people are stranded 1,000 feet underground while investigators work to determine exactly what malfunctioned in the elevator system. Mikesell said those people were on a tour of the mine, and one of them is a mine employee.
Mikesell said those people are safe on the ground inside a tunnel. He said they have chairs, blankets and drinking water, and they are able to communicate with crews above ground.
Mikesell said engineers are inspecting the elevator to determine what malfunctioned and see if it's safe to bring those people back up in the elevator. If not, Mikesell said, other contingency plans are in place.
Mikesell said the focus right now is keeping those people calm underground.
"They honestly don't know that we had an issue other than there's a problem with the elevator," he said. "We're just trying to keep down the worry of what's going on so that nobody gets excited."
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis released the following statement:
“I am saddened to learn of the loss of a life in this tragic accident and my heart goes out to the family and loved ones during this difficult time. While we are still gathering information, the State of Colorado is doing everything in our power to support local authorities and ensure the safe rescue of those who are still in the mine. I have been in close contact with local authorities and continue to monitor the situation closely as we direct state resources to support the swift and safe resolution of this unfortunate event,” the statement read.
Polis' office said Thursday that the state had personnel on site and more on the way to assess the situation and provide support to local authorities. A field manager from the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management was there, the State Emergency Operations Center was activated and supporting resource requests, a mine rescue team from the Department of Natural Resources was on the way, and the Department of Labor and Employment had a conveyances inspector en route. Department of Natural Resources Executive Director Dan Gibbs was also on his way to the site, the governor's office said.
The attraction's website says "the Mollie Kathleen is an authentic 1890's gold mine" and visitors can "descend 1,000 feet underground."
This is a developing situation. This article will be updated as information is confirmed.
