In Apple Valley, Minnesota, a tree-trimming worker has been charged with manslaughter after a colleague died in an incident involving a hydraulic grapple. Authorities allege that Christopher Boone Crimmins, 34, was operating heavy machinery when Tyler Anthony Lynch, 26, sustained fatal head injuries during what officials described as "f—ing around" on the job. The event took place last Thursday.
Tragedy Unfolds on the Job Site
According to a criminal complaint filed by Dakota County, the incident occurred while Crimmins was at the controls of a boom, a mechanical arm with a grapple attachment, located on the back of a truck. Lynch was on the ground, engaged in clearing branches. Investigators stated that Crimmins and Lynch began engaging in playful behavior involving their shadows.
"He and the Victim were ‘f—ing around’ and saw that the sunlight was casting shadows of both the grapple and of the Victim on the street," the criminal complaint detailed.
Crimmins reportedly maneuvered the grapple's shadow to appear as if it was grabbing Lynch’s shadow. However, he allegedly failed to monitor the actual position of the grapple itself, which was moving dangerously close to Lynch's head.
The Dakota County Attorney's Office stated, "Crimmins was not monitoring the actual grapple or Lynch. He then opened and closed the grapple, crushing Lynch’s head."
Investigation and Legal Proceedings
Responding officers found Lynch on the ground with "a significant amount of blood around him and significant trauma to his head," as noted in the complaint. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators observed blood on the grapple, which was positioned directly above the victim. A witness to the event corroborated aspects of the account, stating that the grapple appeared to "hit or pinch" Lynch’s head as it approached him.
Authorities have accused Crimmins of negligence, asserting that he created an "unreasonable risk" and "consciously takes chances of causing death or great bodily harm to another."
Crimmins now faces one felony count of second-degree manslaughter. If convicted, the charge carries a potential maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of $20,000.
Officials confirmed that Crimmins is currently being held at the Dakota County Jail. Bail has been set at $40,000 without conditions, or $20,000 with specific conditions.
