TELLER COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) – The Teller County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) announced Wednesday that the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine near Cripple Creek, is now able to resume operations for the 2025 tourist season, after an investigation was launched into a deadly elevator malfunction that killed a tour guide, and trapped almost two-dozen tourists.
The TCSO states that their investigation found that the elevator incident was caused by an operator error, and could not be attributed to current mine practices or faulty equipment at the mine. They say the case has been closed and ruled as an accidental death.
KRDO13 Investigates has asked the TCSO whether the “operator error” in question was Weier’s error, or if it was an error made by someone else. They responded saying they weren’t able to give us that information.
The TCSO said the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment’s Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety, the Division of Oil and Public Safety, and the Mine Training and Safety Program concluded their safety inspection of the Mollie Kathleen Mine in December 2024.
The inspection came after the state issued a cease-and-desist order to the mine, after the incident left tour guide Patrick Weier dead, and trapped almost two dozen tourists within the mineshaft.
RELATED REPORTING: Family, friends & community honor death of Gold Mine tour guide with procession in Cripple Creek
First responders were initially called to the scene for an elevator malfunction, that had left 11 tourists were reported stuck about 500 feet down the 1,000 foot deep tourist mining shaft. Four people were injured, and two of the 11 were children.
Those people were brought back to the surface, however the elevator was left inoperable by the incident, and couldn’t be lowered to the bottom of the shaft where another 12 tourists remained stuck for several hours. However, they too got rescued.
One woman, who was in one of the two elevator carts that were a part of the initial call for service spoke with KRDO13 Investigates Wednesday afternoon.
She says that she and six others were standing in the top elevator cart, while another six and tour guide Patrick Weier, occupied the bottom elevator cart. She says there were 14 people total in the groups that were sent down for the gold mine tour.
As their carts descended, she said there were about 10-15 seconds of smooth riding, before the elevator began shaking erratically, and then their cart went into free-fall for a few seconds. She says they then jolted and ground to a halt by emergency brakes.
It was then, after they came to a stop, she believed the shaft was collapsing, or that a rock had fallen onto the top of their cart, however she realized it was the body of Weier. She explained that their were grated bars over the top of their cart, and not a solid roof, which allowed Weiers body to fall into the elevator with them.
The woman says that she and a friend of hers in the same elevator, climbed out of the top of their cart, going up several ladders to the surface to call 9-1-1 and alert authorities of what had happened.
She clarified that their elevators were well below 500 feet within the mine shaft, which is in contrast to what was reported by officials on October 10. She stated she knew that because, as she climbed up the ladders within the shaft she passed by a lightbulb that showed a depth of 500 feet.
She asked that KRDO13 Investigates not share much of the details she shared, as the memories still haunt her to this day.
According to the TCSO, the inspection looked at the mine’s ground control, inspection and training records, ventilation, fire prevention and control, communication systems, personnel hoisting mechanisms and procedures, and other safety and health requirements.
Ultimately, the State mining inspectors concluded that the Mollie Kathleen Mine met the provisions of the Regulations for the Mine Safety and Training Program for Tourist Mines and no imminent or substantial danger to the public or employees exists.
As a result, the cease-and-desist was lifted, allowing the mine to resume operations in 2025.
KRDO13 Investigates has reached out to the legal counsel for the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine for comment, they said they were still looking at the investigations findings.
RELATED REPORTING:
Trapped survivors safely rescued from Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine near Cripple Creek
Cripple Creek Fire Chief recounts Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine rescue efforts
Teller County Sheriff’s Office identifies man who died in Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine
Family, friends & community honor death of Gold Mine tour guide with procession in Cripple Creek
Records show tourists got trapped at the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine 30 years ago
State sends cease and desist letter to owners of Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine after deadly accident
Regulators say they still haven’t seen mine safety records after man died, a dozen were trapped
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