Six people are dead following a “dairy accident” on a farm in Weld County, Colorado.
Emergency crews were dispatched to a “confined space rescue” on Wednesday evening, the Southeast Weld Fire Protection District announced on Thursday afternoon. There, crews “recovered six deceased individuals” from the space, officials said.
Fire officials referred to the incident as a “dairy accident,” but did not provide additional details. A preliminary investigation suggests the six victims were exposed to gas at Prospect Valley Dairy near Keenesburg, a northern Colorado town about 40 miles outside of Denver, the Weld County Coroner’s Office told CBS News.
Officials have yet to release the victims’ identities. The coroner’s office said all six victims were men and most were adults, though one victim may have been a 17-year-old.
The Weld County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the scene to support fire department personnel, Public Information Officer Melissa Chesmore told The Independent. At this time, “nothing criminal in nature has been discovered,” she added.
Dairy Farmers of America, a milk marketing cooperative, confirmed the incident happened at one of its member farms.
“We are deeply saddened by this incident, and our thoughts and most sincere condolences go out to the friends and families of the deceased,” the organization said in a statement. “At this early stage, we have no further details."
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is now investigating the incident, a spokesperson for the agency told The Independent. Officials will release more information when the investigation is complete.
A man who previously worked at the farm told local outlet Denver7 he went to the scene on Thursday because he knew the victims.
"They started working here about six years ago," the employee, identified as Inés, said. “That's why I came, because they were my friends."
