Minnesota Man Charged with Manslaughter in Coworker's Death During Job

Christopher Boone Crimmins, 34, has been charged with second-degree manslaughter after fatally crushing his coworker’s head with a hydraulic grapple during a tree-trimming job in Apple Valley, Minnesota, on August 20, 2026.

The victim, Tyler Anthony Lynch, 26, suffered fatal head trauma when Crimmins operated the truck-mounted boom grapple, which unintentionally closed on Lynch’s head while the two were reportedly fooling around on the job, according to Dakota County authorities.

Police found Lynch lying on the ground with significant blood loss and trauma to his head, and he was declared dead at the scene, the Dakota County Attorney’s Office said.

Crimmins told investigators he and Lynch had been "f---ing around" and noticed their shadows cast by sunlight on the street. Crimmins moved the grapple so its shadow appeared to grab Lynch’s shadow, but he was watching only the shadows—not Lynch himself—and failed to realize the grapple was moving toward Lynch’s actual head.

"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 stated.

Authorities said, "Crimmins was not monitoring the actual grapple or Lynch. He then opened and closed the grapple, crushing Lynch’s head." A witness reported seeing the grapple hit or pinch Lynch’s head as it approached.

Crimmins was the only crew member licensed to operate the commercial machinery, which was being used to clear branches. Police noted blood on the grapple directly above Lynch at the scene.

The Dakota County Attorney’s Office charged Crimmins with one felony count of second-degree manslaughter, alleging he acted negligently by creating an unreasonable risk and consciously taking chances of causing death or serious injury.

"Crimmins was not monitoring the actual grapple or Lynch. He then opened and closed the grapple, crushing Lynch’s head," the office said.

Crimmins was arrested and held at the Dakota County Jail with bail set at $40,000 without conditions or $20,000 with conditions. He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted and is scheduled for an omnibus hearing on September 10.

Officials from the Occupational and Health Safety Administration are also investigating the incident.