A Minnesota man has been charged with manslaughter after a coworker was killed when a hydraulic grapple crushed his head during on-the-job horseplay. Christopher Boone Crimmins, 34, faces a felony count of second-degree manslaughter in connection with the death of Tyler Anthony Lynch, 26.
The incident occurred Thursday in Apple Valley. According to a criminal complaint filed by Dakota County, Crimmins was operating a boom on the back of a truck while Lynch was on the ground clearing branches. Police found Lynch with significant head trauma and pronounced him dead at the scene.
Authorities allege that Crimmins and Lynch were "f—ing around" and looking at shadows cast by the hydraulic grapple and Lynch. Crimmins reportedly maneuvered the grapple to make its shadow appear to grab Lynch’s shadow. While doing so, he allegedly did not monitor the actual grapple or Lynch. He then opened and closed the grapple, crushing Lynch’s head, the complaint stated.
A witness reportedly observed the grapple strike or pinch Lynch’s head as it approached. Investigators noted blood on the grapple, which was positioned above Lynch when they arrived.
Prosecutors contend that Crimmins created an "unreasonable risk" and "consciously took chances of causing death or great bodily harm to another" through his actions. If convicted, Crimmins faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine. He was being held at the Dakota County Jail with bail set at $40,000 without conditions or $20,000 with conditions.