VIDEO: Six people are dead after what is being described by officials as a โdairy accidentโ in Weld County on Wednesday. Around 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, the Southeast Weld Fire District responded to a confined space rescue at a dairy in the 32000 block of Weld County Road 18, which is the location of Prospect Ranch.
In a press release on Thursday, the agency said that when crews responded, they prepared to enter the confined space to perform rescue operations. Crews ended up recovering the bodies of six people from the space. Later, the Weld County Coronerโs Office said that all of the victims were male, and that their names and ages will be released after they are identified and next-of-kin had been notified. The Weld RE-9 School District identified one of the victims as a student in the district.
โThe Weld Re-9 School District is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of a Highland High School student in a tragic confinement incident at a local dairy last night. This tragedy has deeply affected our school district and community,โ the district said in a statement. The district is providing counseling and support services to students and staff, and said that leadership is keeping the studentโs family and friends in their thoughts โduring this difficult time.โ
In the press release, the fire chief titled the incident a โdairy accident,โ and further details about the rescue have not been released at this time. The coronerโs office said that it is investigating the deaths as possibly being the result of gas exposure in a confined space, but the final cause and manner of death will await autopsy and toxicology results.
Radio traffic from Weld County Fire and EMS revealed that first responders at the scene found a male party passed out in a confined space after a pipe had burst, but another person had been able to get out. The gas led to delays for the first responders as they sought gas masks to enter the building.
Crews then radioed back to dispatch, informing them there were at least five unconscious patients who were about 12 feet down with possible high levels of unknown gases and hydrogen sulfide.
