Oct. 31 - UPDATE
In the heart of Colorado, a tight-knit community is reeling from a devastating incident that occurred at Prospect Valley Dairy on the evening of Wednesday, Aug. 20. First responders were alerted to the scene around 6 p.m.
Six people who died at a Colorado dairy farm this summer were exposed to hydrogen sulfide gas, authorities said Thursday. The Weld County coroner’s office drew its conclusions from autopsies and toxicology tests. The initial findings by the Weld County coroner’s office hinted at exposure to hazardous gas, setting the stage for a detailed investigation. Authorities, including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Weld County sheriff’s office, have noted that no criminal factors were discovered at the scene.
The tragedy took a heavy toll, claiming the lives of six individuals:
- Ricardo Gomez Galvan, 40, dairy manager from Keenesburg
- Noe Montanez Casanas, 32, assistant dairy manager
- Jorge Sanchez Pena, 36, of Greeley, service manager for High Plains Robotics, a dairy service company
- Alejandro Espinoza Cruz, 50, of Nunn, service technician for High Plains Robotics, a dairy service company
- Oscar Espinoza Leos, 17, Espinoza Cruz’s son, accompanied his father on this work job as an intern for High Plains Robotics, a dairy service company.
- Carlos Espinoza Prado, 29, Espinoza Cruz’s son, accompanied his father on this job, as a service technician for High Plains Robotics, a dairy service company.
DeLaval shared with Dairy Herd Management that Prospect Valley Dairy milked in a DeLaval 106-stall rotary that had been installed in 2018.
A source close to Dairy Herd Management described the chaos as the dairy manager attempted to assist others before collapsing, highlighting the confusion and fear that gripped the location that day.
This community of dairy workers is supported by companies like DeLaval and HPR, both expressing profound sorrow and pledging assistance. DeLaval offered a heartfelt statement, sharing condolences and affirming support for those impacted:
“DeLaval is deeply saddened to learn of the tragic incident that occurred at Prospect Valley Dairy on August 20. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of those who perished. We stand by in support of those impacted as we await further information from the authorities.”
While HPR, which offers technology, service, maintenance and support to dairy farms in Colorado, emphasized their commitment to aiding employees’ families, acknowledging the ongoing OSHA investigation to uncover the cause of this tragedy:
“We extend our sympathies to the families of the HPR employees affected by this tragedy. OSHA is working to determine the cause of the accident, and we are fully supporting their efforts. They are leading the official investigation and will be the sole source for the facts of the accident.
We are committed to supporting our employees and their families during this difficult time. We ask for respect for the privacy of the families, our team members, and others affected as they grieve this tremendous loss.”
Amid this sorrow, there has been an outpouring of community support. GoFundMe pages have been established to ease the financial burden faced by the affected families.
- Fundraiser by Juan Mendez : Support Families of Oscar, Carlos, Alejandro, & George
- Fundraiser by Ana Guevara : Familia
As this community grieves, there is a collective plea for privacy and respect for the families, allowing them the time and space to navigate life after such an irreparable loss. In times like these, it is crucial for the community to come together to mourn, remember and support one another.
This is a developing story. As investigations continue, Dairy Herd Management will continue to update as we learn more. Our team offers heartfelt condolences to the families affected by this tragic accident.
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New Details: Devastating Dairy Farm Accident in Colorado Kills Six
