In August 2025, six lives were lost on a Colorado dairy farm as a result of a tragic accident involving exposure to hydrogen sulfide, or H2S. This loss has shaken not only the families, but also the victims’ local Weld County communities.
Four of the victims were employees of HPR, or High Plains Robotics, a dairy equipment company based in Johnstown, Colo. – one of several outside contractors whom the dairy hires to service its equipment. Jorge Sanchez Pena, 36, was a service manager. Alejandro Espinoza Cruz, 50, and Carlos Espinoza Prado, 29, were service technicians. Oscar Espinoza Leos, 17, was an intern. The other two victims were employees of the dairy where the accident occurred.
“Losing these guys is something we have felt and grieved every day since the accident,” says Kevin Fiske, owner of HPR. “As a local, family-owned company, we have never been through anything like this, and the families they have left behind have been first and foremost on our minds.”
Throughout the six months since the accident, OSHA has been completing its investigation at the dairy.
“The only ones who truly know what happened are no longer with us, but we do know that the HPR employees were experienced and careful.” Fiske says. “The four men would not have put themselves or others in harm’s way if the extent of the danger had been even a possibility in their mind.”
As of mid-February, 2026, OSHA completed its investigation, assigning citations to HPR, the dairy and another contractor. Citations to HPR include failure to protect employees from hazardous atmospheres and failure to provide hydrogen sulfide detection training.
“We’ve been supportive throughout the investigation, answering questions and providing documentation,” Fiske says. “We disagree with the findings, and we’re exploring our next steps.”
According to a statement from OSHA, the investigation also concluded an HPR employee and a Prospect Ranch employee attempted to stop the flow but were overcome by the gas. Subsequently, three more HPR employees and one Prospect Ranch employee entered the pump room, which led to the loss of a total of six workers.
In light of the release of the OSHA citations, HPR has released the following statement:
“Our hearts are heavy as we review OSHA’s citations related to the accident that claimed the lives of four of our employees in August 2025. We have cooperated with the investigation proceedings to date. While we disagree with the findings and are reviewing our options to determine next steps, we are focused on doing what is in our power to ensure that a tragedy like this never happens again.
The men that we lost were not only pillars of their families and communities, but they were also valuable and respected members of HPR. We share in the grief of their untimely passing. As employees of HPR, their pride in their work was evidenced by the diligence with which they served our dairy customers.”
“I just wish everyone knew how great these guys were at their jobs,” Fiske says. “A few of them had been with us at HPR for years, and we knew them like family. They were some of the best dairy technicians around.
“They were sons, husbands, dads, brothers, uncles, grandfathers. The accident was just that – an accident. They are so dearly missed by so many, and will be for years to come.”
