A Minnesota tree worker is accused of accidentally killing his co-worker after allegedly using a heavy machine’s shadow to play around on the street.
Christopher Crimmins, 34, has been charged with second-degree manslaughter in the death of 26-year-old Tyler Anthony Lynch, according to a criminal complaint.
The deadly incident happened Thursday in Apple Valley, Minnesota, just south of Minneapolis.
Crimmins and Lynch had been trimming trees for several hours using a boom truck equipped with a hydraulic grapple.
According to the complaint, Crimmins was positioned on top of the boom while Lynch was on the ground cleaning up branches.
Crimmins allegedly told police the two men had been “f—ing around” while they worked.
At one point, he said he noticed the sunlight was casting shadows of both Lynch and the grapple onto the street.
Investigators say Crimmins began moving the grapple while watching the shadows, trying to make it look like the machine’s shadow was grabbing Lynch’s shadow.
But police say he was not actually looking at Lynch or the grapple itself.
According to the complaint, the grapple moved toward Lynch’s head without Crimmins realizing how close it had gotten.
He then allegedly closed the grapple.
Police say it crushed Lynch’s head.
A witness reportedly told investigators they saw the grapple move toward Lynch and either strike or pinch his head, causing severe injuries.
Apple Valley police officers responded to the scene and found Lynch lying on the ground with significant head trauma and a large amount of blood around him.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators also reported finding blood on the grapple directly above where Lynch was found.
Crimmins was arrested and booked into the Dakota County Jail.
His bail was set at $40,000 without conditions.
He is scheduled to return to court on Sept. 10.
The second-degree manslaughter charge is an allegation, and the case remains ongoing.
God bless his soul