6 Dead, Including High School Student, Following Accident at Colorado Dairy Farm

Six people, including a section precocious schooler, were recovered dormant astatine a Colorado dairy farm, and officials are now investigating nan deaths arsenic a imaginable consequence of state exposure.

On Wednesday, Aug. 20, astir 6 p.m. section time, nan Southeast Weld Fire Protection District responded to Prospect Valley Dairy connected Weld County Road successful Keenesburg for what was referred to arsenic a "confined space" rescue.

After occurrence crews "took due precautions to participate nan confined abstraction to execute rescue operations," they discovered six group dead, nan territory shared connected Facebook. "The District extends its sincere condolences to nan families of nan victims," Fire Chief Tom Beach wrote successful nan statement.

NBC News connection KUSA of Denver noted that 3 others were progressive successful nan calamity but did past and received curen astatine a infirmary successful adjacent Greeley, Colo.

Prospect Valley Dairy is located astir 40 miles from Denver.

Deputy main coroner Jolene Weiner said, per NBC News and The Associated Press, that nan deaths are being investigated. They are thought to person been caused by lethal state vulnerability successful a confined space.

The type of state has not been confirmed.

The victims' identities were being withheld until family's are notified. However, Weiner said that they were each Hispanic males.

Weld County School District RE-9 confirmed connected Facebook that a Highland High School student was 1 of nan victims, penning that their decease has "deeply affected our schoolhouse territory and community."

A spokesperson for nan Weld County Sheriff's Office directed questions to nan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and nan Southeast Weld Fire District erstwhile contacted by PEOPLE, noting that "nothing criminal successful quality has been discovered."

An investigation into nan incident has been opened astatine OSHA, a spokesperson told PEOPLE, noting that it could return up to six months. There will beryllium nary updates connected nan business until nan investigation is completed.

"Our thoughts are pinch nan families and loved ones of nan workers who mislaid their lives astatine nan dairy workplace successful Keenesburg, Colorado," nan spokesperson said.

The workplace itself is simply a personnel of nan Dairy Farmers of America, which said successful a connection shared pinch AP that it was "deeply saddened by this incident," adding, "At this early stage, we person nary further details."

PEOPLE reached retired to nan Southeast Weld Fire Protection District, OSHA, nan Dairy Farmers of America and nan United States Department of Labor for updates connected nan lawsuit connected Friday, Aug. 22.