Prospect Ranch sign in Keenesburg, CO.
Share this @internewscast.com

SIX workers, including four members of the same family, have now been identified after dying in what authorities suspect was gas exposure at a Colorado dairy farm, leaving communities in mourning.

Emergency crews recovered the bodies on Wednesday evening at a dairy farm in Keenesburg, about 35 miles northeast of Denver.

Prospect Ranch sign in Keenesburg, CO.
Four members of the same family, died from suspected gas exposure at a Colorado dairy farmCredit: AP
Family posing for a graduation photo.
Jorge Sanchez Pena, 36, of Greeley
A young man in a cowboy hat rides a brown horse.
Oscar Espinoza Leos, 17, of Nunn
A man wearing a hard hat and headlamp.
Carlos Espinoza Prado, 29, of Evans
Portrait of a man in a light-colored shirt.
Alejandro Espinoza Cruz, 50, of Nunn

Weld County Chief Deputy Coroner Jolene Weiner confirmed all six were Hispanic males, four of them belonging to an extended family.

Alejandro Espinoza Cruz, 50, of Nunn, was among the victims. His two sons, 17-year-old Oscar Espinoza Leos and 29-year-old Carlos Espinoza Prado, also died.

Another family member, 36-year-old Jorge Sanchez Pena of Greeley, perished in the incident. He was related to the Espinozas by marriage.

The remaining two victims were Ricardo Gomez Galvan, 40, and Noe Montanez Casanas, 32, both residents of Keenesburg.

Project Protect Food System Workers said the Espinozas and Pena often repaired machinery at dairies around Keenesburg, the Denver Post reported.

“They were extremely hardworking and humble,” said Tomi Rodriguez, an outreach worker with the organization.

“They were a very united family.”

The coroner’s office said autopsies have been completed but further testing is needed to confirm the exact cause of death.

Project Protect said the two victims outside the extended family lived in employer-provided housing on the dairy grounds.

The farm remains under investigation while authorities await toxicology results.

Six people are found dead in mystery ‘dairy accident’ after cops rush to scene to rescue bodies from confined space

Melissa Chesmore, a spokesperson for the Weld County Sheriff’s Office, said there is no evidence suggesting criminal activity.

County records list the property as owned by Prospect Valley Dairy LLC, with an address in Bakersfield, California.

Community members described the victims as dedicated workers who were tightly connected to their families.

Colorado Dairy Farm Tragedy

  • Victims: Six workers, all Hispanic men
  • Family members lost: A father, two sons, and a relative
  • Other victims: Two men who lived on the farm
  • Location: Keenesburg, Colorado, about 35 miles from Denver
  • Cause: Suspected gas exposure in a confined space (under investigation)
  • Owner: Prospect Valley Dairy LLC, based in Bakersfield, California

The loss has left a ripple of grief through rural areas around Keenesburg.

Support networks and neighbors continue to organize events to aid the families financially.

According to the ABC local affiliate KMGH-TV report, the tragedy may have started when a worker went into a manure pit to adjust a valve.

The worker may have accidentally triggered a valve or pump with his phone, releasing hydrogen sulfide gas.

The worker collapsed almost instantly, and five others rushed in to save him, despite warnings from a supervisor not to enter.

A former employee at the location said the victims were his friends.

“They started working here about six years ago,” the man, who identified himself to the outlet as Inés, said of the victims.

“They couldn’t tell me what happened, but something happened.”

“That’s why I came because they were my friends.”

Weld County is Colorado’s leading dairy producer and also tops the state in beef cattle, grain, and sugar beet production, with about three-quarters of its land devoted to farming and livestock.

Census data from 2020 shows that 30% of the county’s residents identified as Hispanic or Latino, compared with 22% statewide.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Federal agencies, US cities on alert for potential retaliatory attacks amid Israel-Iran war conflict; no specific threats for IL

US Cities Heighten Security: Preparing for Possible Repercussions from Israel-Iran Tensions

In the wake of recent military strikes by American and Israeli forces…
Father of Georgia high school shooting suspect convicted of second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter

Georgia High School Shooting Suspect’s Father Found Guilty of Murder and Manslaughter

The father of a suspect in the Georgia high school shooting has…
Supreme Court blocks law against schools outing transgender students to their parents in California

Supreme Court Halts California Law Protecting Transgender Students’ Privacy Rights

The Supreme Court has paved the way for California schools to inform…
Justin Timberlake sues to block release of police video from 2024 drunken driving arrest in New York

Justin Timberlake Initiates Legal Action to Prevent Release of Police Video from 2024 DUI Incident in New York

NEW YORK — Justin Timberlake has taken legal action to prevent the…
Trump presses NATO partners on support as Hegseth blasts hesitation

Trump Urges NATO Allies for Stronger Support Amid Criticism from Hegseth on Delays

In a recent briefing, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth expressed concern over…
State Department confirms Foreign Service Officer is suspect in Virginia 'road rage' mass stabbing

Shocking Road Rage Incident: State Department Officer Implicated in Virginia Mass Stabbing

The tragic aftermath of a highway road rage incident on Sunday has…
Woman jumps from 2nd-floor window as LA building erupts in flames

Woman Escapes from Second-Floor Window Amidst Blaze in Los Angeles Building

A heart-stopping scene unfolded in Los Angeles when a woman jumped from…
Two men charged with murder in 2022 Kernan Road break-in death

Double Arrest Made: Two Men Charged with Murder in 2022 Kernan Road Break-In Tragedy

In a dramatic turn of events, Tyss Harris and Talint Curtis are…
Horses help heal soldiers amid Israel’s mounting PTSD crisis after Oct 7 attacks

Equine Therapy Offers Healing to Soldiers Affected by PTSD in Israel After Recent Attacks

Healing after war: Inside Israel’s equine therapy program Alex, aged 35 and…
Trans child's mother threatens to 'f--king kill' woman at Dem convention

Mother of Trans Child Allegedly Threatens Woman at Democratic Convention

A video has surfaced showing a mother of a transgender child making…
Cincinnati mayor opposes judge's move to grant bail to convicted felon linked to mass shooting gun battle

Cincinnati Mayor Criticizes Judge’s Decision to Grant Bail to Convicted Felon Tied to Mass Shooting Incident

On Tuesday, Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval voiced strong opposition to a judge’s…
US military blasts Iranian warship in new video, says regime has 'ZERO' left in Gulf of Oman

US Military Releases Video of Iranian Warship Destruction, Declares Gulf of Oman Now Clear of Regime Presence

The United States military has effectively neutralized Iran’s naval forces within a…