Denver – A tourist guide killed in a former Colorado Gold Mine .
As the elevator descended, the door came out and caught the side of the axis of the mine, the guide fell, was dragged and ended up landing on one of the tourists while the elevator continued its descent, the researchers determined.
The heartbreaking of the October accident that killed Patrick Weier, 46, at the Mollie Kathleen mine in the mountains near Colorado Springs was included in a research report obtained by AP in response to a request for public records.
The Sheriff’s office announced earlier this month that Weier’s death was caused by the “operator error”, but did not explain how he died or what was the error. State mining regulators inspected the mine after the accident and found no problem with the team there.
Steve Schafrik, an associate professor of mining engineering at the University of Kentucky, said that in commercial mining operations, an elevator will not move if security systems are not in their place and work. However, he said he had no experience with operations in old mines that are now only used for tours.
The surveillance video showed that in the minutes prior to his death, Weier charged the group of tourists at the lower level of a two -story two -story elevator for a 1,000 -feet decrease in the mine. But he had trouble squeezing because he was very full, said Teller County Sheriff’s report.
The tourists who were in the lower section with him told the researchers that Weier had asked them to get more so that they could fit inside, according to the report. A woman suggested to mount on the upper level of the elevator since people were smaller, but she said she did not respond.
Weier had hardly enough space to reach his hand to close the door, and he did not seem to have secured his pestillo, according to the report.
A few seconds from starting the descent, the passengers said the elevator began to hit the axis wall. Weier cursed and said things like “I can’t stop this,” and the rubble flew to passengers in the dark. Some lost their helmets and, without much light, they had to trust mainly in the sounds to try to distinguish what was happening.
According to the report, approximately half the axis, the door opened, left its track and folded while scraping the elevator axis. The researchers believe that Weier fell after touching the bell to tell the operator to stop the elevator. At first it was caught between the axis wall and the elevator that still moves and finally fell into the upper elevator car.
When the elevator suddenly stopped, the group in the previous compartment said someone else was in his car, Weier. His body landed on a woman, who said he felt he was being stifled by him.
A woman in the lower car was nailed by the bent door until others could release her.
Two women in the upper car decided to raise a staircase in search of help. They said that the staircase was breaking as they advanced, but they both did it safely.
The accident left a second group of tourists trapped for 1,000 feet (305 meters) hours under the ground, since the authorities worked to ensure that the elevator could bring them safely.
No one responded to the mine and its owner did not respond to telephone messages or email. The mine’s website says it is closed until new notice.
Weier was a 7 -year -old son and was from the nearby city of Victor, Colorado. Some people who toured the mine with him have donated to a collection of online funds for his son, saying that his knowledge about the mining history of the area left them an impact on them.
