Minnesota Man Charged in 26-Year-Old Coworker's Death After Boom Grapple Crushes Head
Updated
Updated · CBS New York · Aug 21
Minnesota Man Charged in 26-Year-Old Coworker's Death After Boom Grapple Crushes Head
3 articles · Updated · CBS New York · Aug 21
Summary
Apple Valley police arrested a 34-year-old tree worker after coworker Tyler Anthony Lynch, 26, was killed by a boom grapple at a job site Thursday evening.
A criminal complaint says the operator admitted he was "f**king around" and making shadow-puppet motions with the grapple, closing it without looking at Lynch and crushing his head.
Officers reached the 5200 block of 132nd Street West around 7:10 p.m. and found Lynch dead; a witness said the grapple moved and hit or pinched his head.
The Brainerd man, who told police he was the only worker with a commercial driver's license and was operating the boom, now faces one count of second-degree manslaughter.
OSHA officials are also investigating the fatal workplace incident, extending the case beyond the criminal charge.