Weld County Coroner’s Office Identifies JBS Fall Victim

The Weld County Coroner's Office has identified the victim of a possible work-related fall at the JBS meat packing plant over the weekend.

The victim has been identified as 55-year-old Jonathan Bryan Duerst of Greeley.

New Country 99.1 reported that firefighters arrived at the JBS meatpacking plant in Greeley on Saturday (Mar. 27) after receiving reports that one of the organization’s workers had fallen. When personnel arrived on scene, they found that the injured man’s coworkers had removed him from the factory and taken him somewhere safe to receive medical treatment.

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Medical authorities present at the meatpacking plant following the incident deemed that the injured man needed additional medical attention and moved him to the North Colorado Medical Center. Duerst was pronounced dead late Saturday morning at the hospital.

According to the Greeley Tribune, the fatal incident remains under investigation by local and federal agencies, as per a news release from the Weld County coroner's office from Monday afternoon (Mar. 29).

The manner and cause of death in Saturday morning's incident are being verified through autopsy and laboratory reports; the results of each are still pending.

JBS issued a brief statement on Duerst’s death via email on Monday evening.

“Our heartfelt sympathies go out to Mr. Duerst’s family and friends,” the statement reads. “He was a dedicated team member and we are mourning this sudden loss.”