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Six people, including a high school student, died following an accident at a Colorado dairy farm
The Southeast Weld Fire Protection District announced that six bodies were recovered from Prospect Valley Dairy in Keenesburg on Aug. 20
Officials are investigating the cause of the deaths and believe they might be attributed to lethal gas exposure
Six people, including a local high schooler, were found dead at a Colorado dairy farm, and officials are now investigating the deaths as a possible result of gas exposure.
On Wednesday, Aug. 20, around 6 p.m. local time, the Southeast Weld Fire Protection District responded to Prospect Valley Dairy on Weld County Road in Keenesburg for what was referred to as a "confined space" rescue.
After fire crews "took appropriate precautions to enter the confined space to perform rescue operations," they discovered six people dead, the district shared on Facebook. "The District extends its sincere condolences to the families of the victims," Fire Chief Tom Beach wrote in the statement.
NBC News affiliate KUSA of Denver noted that three others were involved in the tragedy but did survive and received treatment at a hospital in nearby Greeley, Colo.
Prospect Valley Dairy is located roughly 40 miles from Denver.
Deputy chief coroner Jolene Weiner said, per NBC News and The Associated Press, that the deaths are being investigated. They are thought to have been caused by lethal gas exposure in a confined space.
The type of gas has not been confirmed.
The victims' identities were being withheld until family's are notified. However, Weiner said that they were all Hispanic males.
Weld County School District RE-9 confirmed on Facebook that a Highland High School student was one of the victims, writing that their death has "deeply affected our school district and community."
A spokesperson for the Weld County Sheriff's Office directed questions to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Southeast Weld Fire District when contacted by PEOPLE, noting that "nothing criminal in nature has been discovered."
OSHA is investigating the tragedy, a process that could take up to six months, according to ABC News. A spokesperson for the organization told the outlet that their "thoughts are with the families and loved ones of the workers who lost their lives."
The farm itself is a member of the Dairy Farmers of America, which said in a statement shared with AP that it was "deeply saddened by this incident," adding, "At this early stage, we have no further details."
PEOPLE reached out to the Southeast Weld Fire Protection District, OSHA, the Dairy Farmers of America and the United States Department of Labor for updates on the case on Friday, Aug. 22.
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