**Tragic Elevator Malfunction at Colorado’s Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine Leaves One Dead, Four Injured**

Denver (AP) - A tragic elevator malfunction at the historic Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine near Cripple Creek, Colorado, led to the death of one individual, injuries to four others, and 12 people being trapped for several hours on Thursday.

The accident occurred as the elevator was descending into the mine, which operates as a tourist attraction. Around 500 feet (152 meters) beneath the surface, the elevator experienced a mechanical issue, Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell reported. The fatal incident saw one person lose their life, though the cause of death remains undisclosed and the victim has yet to be identified.

Alongside the deceased, eleven other people, including two children, were riding the elevator. Four suffered minor injuries, reporting issues such as back pain, neck pain, and arm pain. Fortunately, these individuals were successfully rescued.

In a separate yet related event, another group comprising 12 adults found themselves trapped at the bottom of the mine for nearly six hours. These individuals had access to water and maintained communication with the authorities through radios. Engineers worked diligently to ensure the elevator's safe function before the stranded tourists were brought back to the surface.

Steven Schafrik, an associate professor of mining engineering at the University of Kentucky, stated that elevator accidents in mines are exceptionally rare. Such elevators, used since the mid-1800s, come equipped with fail-safe mechanisms to prevent significant falls even if a cable breaks. Schafrik described mining elevators as "stupid safe."

Colorado regulations mandate daily inspections of the mine and its transportation systems, but the date of the last inspection at the Mollie Kathleen Mine is currently unknown. Changes were made to the elevator system in 1988 after the mine came under new ownership, including the installation of a new motor and the addition of a secondary nine-person elevator beneath the primary one.

The elevator, typically taking about two minutes per ride, had to be tested thoroughly before the stranded 12 tourists could be safely hoisted up in groups of four. The incident was reported to the authorities around noon, during the mine's final operating week before its seasonal winter closure.