The six people who lost their lives in August on a dairy farm in Keenesburg, Colorado, died after being exposed to hydrogen sulfide gas, a highly toxic substance that can cause death in a matter of minutes, Weld County medical examiners confirmed Thursday.

Autopsy reports and Toxicology tests determined that the group inhaled lethal concentrations of the gas, common in confined spaces where organic waste or decomposing products accumulate. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) warns that exposure to very high levels of this gas can be almost immediately fatal, and that those who survive severe poisoning may suffer neurological aftereffects such as chronic headaches and cognitive difficulties. A devastating accident: The victims were identified as Ricardo Gomez Galvan, Noe Montanez Casanas, Carlos Espinoza Prado, Jorge Sanchez Pena, Alejandro Espinoza Cruz, and Oscar Espinoza Leos, the latter only 17 years old. Cruz was the father of Leos and Prado, and several of the deceased were related by marriage or family, according to Assistant Chief Medical Examiner Jolene Weiner. The accident occurred at the Prospect Ranch dairy farm, located in a rural area about 60 kilometers away. northeast of Denver. At that time, rescue teams from the Southeast Weld Fire Protection District found the bodies of the six victims inside a confined space, where the gas is presumed to have concentrated. “We are investigating these deaths as a possible consequence of gas exposure in a confined space,” Weiner stated when the incident was reported in August. Shock and solidarity in the community. The event deeply impacted the farming community of Keenesburg, where the affected families were widely known. Neighbors, churches, and local organizations raised funds through community events such as dances and car washes to support the victims' relatives.“People are shocked. Everyone in the cattle and dairy community knows it’s hard work and accidents happen,” said Reverend Thomas Kuffel, pastor of Holy Family Church. “But this is very strange, because accidents usually involve one or two people, not six.” State authorities are continuing to investigate workplace safety conditions at the dairy and whether adequate protocols for waste management and ventilation were in place. So far, no criminal charges have been filed, but OSHA has an open federal investigation into possible violations of industrial safety standards.