Weld County dairy workers were killed by hydrogen sulfide gas exposure
- Media Logic Radio
- Oct 31
- 1 min read
Six workers who died in August at a Weld County dairy were killed by exposure to hydrogen sulfide gas. That’s according to confirmation Thursday from the county coroner.
Authorities say the men — ranging in age from 17 to 50 — were found dead on August 20th at Prospect Valley Dairy east of Keenesburg. The victims included 17-year-old Oscar Espinoza Leos, his father Alejandro Espinoza Cruz, and 29-year-old Carlos Espinoza Prado. They were among six relatives or coworkers overcome by the gas inside a confined space at the dairy.
Fire crews initially responded to what they believed was a rescue, but later learned the men had likely been exposed to lethal concentrations of hydrogen sulfide. The gas can form naturally in decomposing manure and quickly becomes deadly when trapped indoors.
Agricultural safety experts said they’d never seen an incident involving six deaths from hydrogen sulfide at once.
The tragedy came a year after a similar exposure at the Western Sugar Cooperative plant in Fort Morgan, where one person died and four others were hospitalized. OSHA later cited that company for 11 serious safety violations.
Worker advocates are urging state lawmakers to strengthen protections for farm workers, including mandatory training and gas monitoring devices.
The Weld County Sheriff’s Office and federal OSHA investigators continue to investigate the Keenesburg dairy deaths.
Funeral and community support efforts for the victims’ families are being coordinated through Project Protect Food Systems Workers.
