Apple Valley Tree-Trimming Worker Charged With Manslaughter in Coworker’s Death
Photo: Dakota County Jail Booking Photo
APPLE VALLEY: A tree-trimming worker has been charged with second-degree manslaughter in the death of a coworker during a job in Apple Valley. According to the criminal complaint, the worker told police he had been maneuvering a hydraulic grapple to make its shadow appear to grab his coworker’s shadow when the fatal incident occurred.
Christopher Boone Crimmins, 34, is charged in Dakota County District Court with one felony count of second-degree manslaughter — culpable negligence creating an unreasonable risk — in connection with the Aug. 20 death of 26-year-old Tyler Anthony Lynch.
Apple Valley police said officers, firefighters and Allina paramedics were dispatched at approximately 7:10 p.m. to the 5200 block of 132nd Street West for a medical emergency. Callers reported that a tree-trimming crew was working at a home in the neighborhood and that one of the workers had suffered a severe head injury.
Police said officers arrived and determined the 26-year-old worker had died.
According to the criminal complaint, officers found Lynch on the ground with significant head trauma near a hydraulic grapple mounted on the back of a tree-trimming truck.
Crimmins and Lynch were both employed by the tree-trimming service and had arrived in Apple Valley a few hours earlier after completing a job in Plymouth, according to the complaint.
Crimmins allegedly told officers that he was the only member of the crew with a commercial driver's license and was responsible for driving the truck and operating its boom. He told police he was not aware of any mechanical problems with the truck or boom.
At the time of the incident, Crimmins was seated on top of the boom operating the equipment while Lynch was on the ground cleaning up branches, according to the probable cause statement.
Crimmins allegedly told officers that he and Lynch were “f**king around” after noticing that sunlight was casting shadows of both Lynch and the grapple onto the street.
According to the complaint, Crimmins said he began maneuvering the grapple while watching the shadows, attempting to make it appear as though the grapple's shadow was grabbing Lynch's shadow.
The complaint alleges Crimmins was looking at the shadows rather than Lynch or the actual grapple and did not see that the equipment was moving toward Lynch's head.
Crimmins then closed the grapple, causing fatal injuries to Lynch, according to the complaint.
A witness told officers they saw the grapple move toward Lynch and either strike or pinch his head, causing significant injuries.
Apple Valley police said officers and detectives interviewed witnesses and determined that two employees had been handling the equipment at the time of the incident. Crimmins, identified by police as the operator, was arrested on suspicion of second-degree manslaughter and transported to the Dakota County Jail.
Police said the investigation was continuing because the death occurred at a jobsite involving heavy equipment. Apple Valley Fire, Allina EMS, the Hennepin County Medical Examiner and OSHA were assisting or supporting the investigation.
Prosecutors allege Crimmins caused Lynch's death through culpable negligence by creating an unreasonable risk and consciously taking chances of causing death or great bodily harm.
Second-degree manslaughter is a felony in Minnesota and carries a maximum possible sentence of 10 years in prison and/or a $20,000 fine.
The allegations against Crimmins are contained in a criminal complaint and have not been proven in court. He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.