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.
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 Weld County, which is north of Denver, the fire department and Weimer said.
The Dairy Farmers of America said the deadly accident happened at one of its member farms in Keenesburg, a small town off Interstate 76 in the southern part of the county.
“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 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.
The Weld County Sheriff’s Office said that it responded but was not the lead agency, and that nothing criminal has been discovered in the incident.
The names of the dead were not released and next of kin notifications were still being made Thursday, the deputy chief coroner, said. Autopsies will also be completed, she said.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has been contacted, Weimer said.
A phone number for Prospect Valley Dairy could not immediately be found Thursday.
