A tragic incident occurred at the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine in Cripple Creek, Colorado, on Thursday when a lift malfunctioned, leaving one person dead and 23 others stranded. Two groups of 12 people were on a tour of the disused gold mine, a popular tourist attraction, when the mechanical failure occurred, trapping one group underground for six hours.
The first group, which included two children, experienced the fatality while 11 others were rescued, with four suffering minor injuries. The second group, stranded in a tunnel 1,000 feet below ground, was safely rescued later that day.
Officials reported that the malfunction occurred approximately 500 feet below the surface, causing significant danger. “We had one fatality during the issue at 500 feet,” confirmed Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell, without providing further details.
Rescue teams communicated via radio with the trapped individuals, who had blankets, water, and were in a safe temperature zone. Sheriff Mikesell clarified that the incident was due to an equipment malfunction and that the mine did not collapse.
Governor Jared Polis expressed relief after all survivors were rescued, while officials launched an investigation into the cause. The mine, named after Mollie Kathleen Gortner, who struck gold in 1891, will close for the season this Sunday. This is the first major incident reported at the mine since 1986.
