Elevator Malfunction in Colorado Mine: 1 Dead, 12 Rescued

An elevator malfunction in a Colorado gold mine on Pikes Peak on October 10 resulted in one person dying and 12 others rescued after being trapped underground for approximately 7 h, The Denver Post is among outlets to report. Another 11 people were safely brought to the surface via the elevator when the malfunction occurred, but emergency crews wanted to make sure the unit was safe before they used it to bring the remaining 12 people to the surface. The local sheriff said the mine elevator experienced a “mechanical issue” when it was approximately 500 ft underground, posing a “severe danger” to the passengers. He said when the elevator was last inspected would be part of the investigation, adding that the mine — a tourist attraction since it opened in the 1890s — has not had a safety incident since 1986 when two people were trapped in the elevator.