CRIPPLE CREEK — The man who died during an equipment malfunction at the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine Tour in Cripple Creek has been identified.
According to The Teller County Sheriff, he was 46-year-old Patrick Weier, a tour guide at the mine. At this time, the cause of his death has not been released.
Weier is survived by his seven year old son.
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One person is dead and 23 people have been rescued following an equipment malfunction at the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine Tour in Cripple Creek Thursday, according to the Teller County Sheriff's Office.
It happened around noon at the mine tour located east of Cripple Creek town limits.
The Teller County Sheriff's Office says a mechanical issue occurred with the elevator taking tourists into the mine, which created a severe danger for riders.
The sheriff's office says when this first happened, 11 people, including two children, were rescued using a trolley car. Four of those people received minor injuries and are expected to be okay. One person, however, died at 500 feet deep.
The sheriff's office says 12 people who were trapped at 1,000 feet were rescued around 7 p.m.
The sheriff's office says the last incident happened in 1986.
According to the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine Tour website, the mine closed in the 1960s, however, mine tours were doing well at the time and so a decision was made to continue the tours.
Revenue from the tours are used to maintain the mine and ensure it is in “safe operable mining condition,” the website reads. One-hour walking tours are offered seasonally.
The tours are open from May through the second weekend in October.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis released the following statement regarding this incident:
“I am relieved that 12 of the people trapped in the Mollie Kathleen Mine have been safely rescued. Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the individual lost in this incident. I thank Teller County and Sheriff Mikesell and his team, as well as the other law enforcement and first responders from local and state government for their swift response and tireless efforts, including members of the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Labor and Employment, and the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Thanks to this collaborative effort, each of these individuals will return home safely.”
The investigation into this incident is still on-going.
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