Minnesota Tree-Trimmer Charged in Prank That Killed Co-worker

A Minnesota tree-trimmer faces manslaughter charges after a deadly prank turned into tragedy with a heavy-duty grapple machine. Christopher Boone Crimmins, 34, is accused of killing his 26-year-old co-worker, Tyler Anthony Lynch. The pair worked in Apple Valley County when the horror unfolded on Thursday afternoon.

Crimmins was driving the truck and controlling the hydraulic arm while Lynch cleared leaves from the ground below. A criminal complaint filed in Dakota County details how Crimmins admitted he and Lynch were 'f***ing around'. They noticed sunlight casting shadows of both the grapple and Lynch's head onto the dirt.

Instead of watching his partner directly, Crimmins focused on the shadow to make a joke. He moved the machine to mimic grabbing the shadow of his friend's head. The fatal mistake? He never looked at Lynch himself. As he watched the shadow play out, the grapple slammed shut right around Tyler Anthony Lynch's head.

Witnesses told investigators they saw the metal jaws 'hit or pinch' the victim before anything else could happen. Police rushed to a report near the 5200 block of 132nd Street West immediately after the crash. They found Lynch covered in a large amount of blood with catastrophic damage to his head. He was pronounced dead at the scene before help could arrive.

Authorities say Crimmins acted with 'culpable negligence' and created an 'unreasonable risk'. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison for this second-degree manslaughter charge. His next court appearance is scheduled for September 10th in Hastings, Minnesota.

County Attorney Keena issued a statement filled with grief. 'My deepest condolences to Mr. Lynch's family members and friends, and all those affected by his death,' she said in the press release. The loss hits close to home for many. A family member shared on Facebook that Tyler was her stepbrother. She sent prayers for her stepdad Jim Lynch, Wendy Olson, and Tyler's mother, Sonja Ivanof. They are truly sorry for their pain.

Tyler Anthony Lynch had been working in professional tree services since 2021, according to his social media history. Now, that career ends abruptly after just a few years of service. The investigation remains ongoing as the Occupational and Health Safety Administration digs into whether safety violations played a role. They are looking for answers before declaring this closed.

Funeral and memorial service details have not yet been publicly announced. The community waits in silence while officials determine exactly what happened behind that truck cab. It is a sobering reminder of how quickly things can go wrong when attention drifts from the job at hand.