Six people were killed Wednesday at a Colorado dairy in an accident that is being investigated as toxic gas exposure, officials said.
Six bodies were recovered when firefighters responded to “a confined space rescue” around 6 p.m., Southeast Weld Fire District Chief Tom Beach said.
The deaths are being investigated as possibly being the result of toxic gas exposure in a confined space, said Jolene Weimer, deputy chief coroner for Weld County.
The accident occurred at Prospect Valley Dairy on Weld County Road 18 in the southern part of Weld County, Weimer and the fire department said.
Officials on Friday identified the dead, who ranged in age from 17 to 50.
Dairy Farmers of America said the deadly accident happened at one of its member farms in the area of Keenesburg, a small town off Interstate 76 northeast of Denver.
"We are deeply saddened by this incident, and our thoughts and most sincere condolences go out to the friends and families of the deceased," Dairy Farmers of America said. "At this early stage, we have no further details."
Three other people were treated at a UCHealth hospital in Greeley and have been released, UCHealth told NBC affiliate KUSA of Denver.
Those killed were identified by the coroner’s office Friday as Jorge Sanchez Pena, 36, of Greeley; Alejandro Espinoza Cruz, 50, of Nunn; Oscar Espinoza Leos, 17, of Nunn; Ricardo Gomez Galvan, 40, of Keenesburg; Noe Montanez Casanas, 32, of Keenesburg; and Carlos Espinoza Prado, 29, of Evans.
Autopsies have been completed but the cause and manner of death remained pending further testing Friday, the coroner’s office said.
The Weld County Sheriff’s Office said that it responded but was not the lead agency and that nothing criminal has been discovered.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has been contacted, Weimer said.
