Six people have been killed by Colorado dairy products in an accident that is being investigated as toxic gas exposure, officials said.
Six bodies were recovered when Chief Tom Beach, in the Southeast Welding District, was recovered around 6pm when firefighters responded to “limited space rescues.”
Deaths are being investigated as possible the result of toxic gas exposure in a trapped space, according to Jolene Weimer, deputy director of Weld County.
The incident occurred in Prospect Valley dairy products on Weld County Road 18, Weld County, north of Denver, the fire department and Weimmer said.
An American dairy farmer said the fatal accident occurred at one of the member farms in Keenesburg, a small town on Interstate 76 in the southern part of the county.
“We are deeply saddened by this incident, and our thoughts and the most sincere pathetic dol come to the friends and family of the deceased,” the American dairy farmer said. “There's no further details in this early stage.”
Uchealth told Denver's NBC affiliate Kusa that three other people were treated at Uchealth Hospital in Greeley and were released.
The Welding County Sheriff's Office said it responded but was not a major agency and that no offenders were found in the incident.
The name of the deceased had not been released and the notice of the near-kin was still on Thursday, the Deputy Chief Coroner said. She said the autopsy will also be completed.
Weimer said he contacted the Occupational Safety and Health Agency.
The phone number for Prospect Valley Dairy was not immediately found Thursday.