Colorado Mine Elevator Malfunction Leaves One Dead, 12 Trapped

A mechanical issue at the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine in Cripple Creek resulted in one fatality and trapped 12 people underground for hours.

The victim, identified as 46-year-old tour guide Patrick Weier, was killed when the elevator malfunctioned around 500 feet below the surface.
Twelve tourists were trapped 1,000 feet underground for approximately six hours before being safely rescued.
Four individuals sustained minor injuries, including back and neck pain, and were treated on-site.
Rescue operations involved multiple agencies, with state resources deployed to ensure the elevator could safely bring the trapped group to the surface.
The mine, a popular tourist attraction since the 1960s, will remain closed as investigations by local and federal authorities continue.