Maryland OSHA will investigate the drowning deaths of a farmer and his two teenage sons in a two-million gallon manure pit.

The bodies of Glenn Nolt, 48, and his sons, Kelvin, 18, and Cleason, 14, were found submerged in the 20-foot deep pit on a farm in Kennedyville, MD.

The three family members had traveled to the farm to pump manure from the pit. The manure is sprayed onto the ground for drying before being spread on other farms.

When the victims didn’t return home, family members drove to the farm. There they found a tractor that was still running and the Glenn Nolt’s pickup truck near the manure pond.

Emergency personnel responded. Vacuum trucks from another farm were called in to remove manure from the pit, which measures 150 by 300 feet and has steep sloping sides.

One body was found five hours later. Three hours after that a second body was recovered. The third body was removed from the pit 90 minutes after that.

Authorities say all three died of asphyxia.

Family members say Glenn Nolt’s sons often worked alongside their father on the farm, which included helping him pump and haul the manure.

The farm with the manure pit is owned by one of Nolt’s customers.

Tags: asphyxia, drown, farmer, manure pit