Six people were found dead in connection with a “dairy accident” in Colorado, local fire officials reported on Aug. 21.
According to the Southeast Weld Fire Protection District, crews recovered the six bodies on Aug. 20 at the 32000 block of Weld County Road 18, about 30 miles north of Denver. Fire Chief Tom Beach said they were called to the site around 6 p.m. for a confined space rescue.
“Unfortunately, District personnel recovered six deceased individuals from the space,” Beach said in a statement, extending condolences to the victims’ families.
Fire district spokesperson Irene Burke said no additional details would be released at this time. Weld County Deputy Chief Coroner Jolene Weiner confirmed all six victims were Hispanic males, but their names and ages will remain undisclosed until families are notified. Autopsies are expected in the coming days, and investigators believe the deaths may have resulted from gas exposure in a confined space.
Local reports identified the site as a dairy farm. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is investigating the incident, according to agency spokesperson Chauntra Rideaux, who said more information will be available after the inspection.
Weld County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Melissa Chesmore stated that deputies responded to the scene but found nothing criminal in nature. She referred additional questions to the fire district.
OSHA Data on Confined Space Accidents
According to OSHA data, confined spaces are often linked to fatal workplace incidents. A USA TODAY review found four OSHA-investigated deaths in 2025 so far.
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One worker died from asphyxiation inside a rail tank car carrying industrial chemicals.
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One fell into a vat of concrete aggregate.
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Another suffered carbon monoxide poisoning inside a closed garage with a running vehicle.
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One died from head injuries after falling into a truck tank.
In 2024, at least 12 deaths were linked to workplace accidents in confined spaces. Ten were caused by asphyxiation due to chemicals or low oxygen levels.
About Weld County
Weld County lies between the Rocky Mountains and the Great Plains in northern Colorado. It spans an area twice the size of Delaware, with Greeley as its county seat and a population of about 360,000.
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Katie is a senior who has been on staff for three years. Her favorite type of stories to write is reviews and features. Katie’s favorite ice cream flavor is strawberry.
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