Six People Killed in Colorado Dairy Farm Accident, OSHA Launches Investigation

Six people were found dead in what authorities called a 'dairy accident'

Six workers were found dead in what authorities have described as a tragic dairy accident in Weld County, Colorado, located just over an hour north of Denver. Emergency crews responded to a call at a dairy operation in Keenesburg, where the victims were discovered in a confined space.

The Southeast Weld Fire Protection District confirmed that personnel carried out a rescue operation with strict safety precautions before recovering the bodies. “Unfortunately, District personnel recovered six deceased individuals from the space,” officials said in a statement. The identities, ages, and genders of the victims have not yet been released.

The accident occurred at a member farm of Dairy Farmers of America, a national milk marketing cooperative. “We are deeply saddened by this incident, and our thoughts and most sincere condolences go out to the friends and families of the deceased,” the cooperative said.

Officials said the bodies were found in a 'confined space'

A man who identified himself only as Inés, a former employee at the farm, said the victims were his friends. “They started working here about six years ago,” he explained. “They couldn’t tell me what happened, but something happened. That’s why I came, because they were my friends.”

Authorities confirmed that no evidence of criminal activity was found at the scene. The Weld County Sheriff’s Office said the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has opened an investigation to determine what led to the deaths.

Dairy accidents often involve hazardous conditions such as confined spaces, machinery malfunctions, or toxic exposure, making them especially dangerous for workers. Officials have not released details about the specific conditions inside the space where the six victims were found.

Weld County, home to more than 360,000 residents, is a major hub for agriculture and dairy production in Colorado. The tragedy has deeply affected the local farming community as investigations continue.