I come across a lot of sad and frightening news. However, sometimes I come across a headline that is so insanely bizarre that I have to read it a few times to even comprehend what it’s trying to convey.
Here is one of those.
When I read that a 26-year-old man had been killed while he and a coworker were allegedly “playing shadows” while tree trimming, I had one immediate question:
What the hell is “playing shadows,” and how do you even do that?
Unfortunately, there is an answer.
And it’s somehow worse than I imagined.
On August 20, Tyler Anthony Lynch, 26, of Royalton, Minnesota, was working at a tree-trimming job in Apple Valley.
His coworker, 34-year-old Christopher Boone Crimmins, was operating a hydraulic grapple attached to the crew’s truck while Tyler worked on the ground picking up branches.
It was around 7 p.m., and the evening sun was apparently casting the shadows of Tyler and the grapple onto the street.
According to the Dakota County Attorney’s Office, the two men noticed the shadows.
That’s when things took an almost incomprehensible turn.
Prosecutors say Crimmins began maneuvering the actual hydraulic grapple so that its shadow appeared to grab Tyler’s shadow.
Just think about that for a second.
There’s Tyler’s shadow on the pavement and the shadow of this enormous piece of machinery.
And allegedly, they’re making the machine’s shadow “grab” the person’s shadow.
But Crimmins isn’t moving a shadow. He’s moving an actual hydraulic grapple.
And according to prosecutors, he wasn’t watching where the real grapple was in relation to Tyler. He was only watching the shadows.
Prosecutors allege Crimmins then opened and closed the grapple, crushing Tyler’s head.
Tyler died at the scene.
He was only 26 years old.
It’s So Heartbreaking Because It’s So Stupid
According to KSTP’s reporting on the criminal complaint, Crimmins told investigators that he and Tyler were “f—ing around” when they noticed the shadows. Crimmins also allegedly was the only person on the crew licensed to even operate the boom.
Crimmins was arrested and has been charged with second-degree manslaughter involving culpable negligence creating an unreasonable risk.
He faces up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine if convicted.
His next court appearance is scheduled for September 10.
Everything describing Crimmins’ conduct comes from allegations in a criminal complaint. He has been charged, not convicted, and is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
But assuming prosecutors’ account of what happened is accurate, I genuinely cannot get over the absurdity of the chain of events.
Two coworkers see their shadows and begin screwing around.
One man is dead.
The other is facing a felony charge.
That’s it.
That’s the story.
At least two lives destroyed.
And this is the kind of story I used to bring to the work meeting each morning that led to my friends suggesting I dump these on someone else instead…so here you go.
Today’s Good Deed Might Be Really Simple
I haven’t found a verified fundraiser for Tyler’s family, and I’m not going to attach some random charity to his name just so this story has somewhere to send money.
But this story does have something useful to say.
Take workplace safety seriously.
This good deed doesn’t cost anything.
If you’re working around something capable of killing somebody, don’t screw around with it.
If your coworker is doing something stupid around dangerous equipment, tell them to stop. Be the Debbie Downer that shares this story.
Be the annoying one.
Be the killjoy.
Be the person everybody rolls their eyes at.
Because the alternative might be becoming the subject of one of these stories.
You don’t want me finding your name this way.
Sources
Dakota County Attorney’s Office — Primary source for the charge against Christopher Boone Crimmins, Tyler Lynch’s identity, the prosecutor’s description of the shadow incident, bail information and the next scheduled court appearance.
KSTP / 5 Eyewitness News — Local reporting based on the criminal complaint, including Crimmins’ alleged description of the two men “f—ing around,” the allegation that he was the only crew member licensed to operate the boom, and potential penalties if convicted.
NBC News — National reporting and corroboration of the criminal case.
Fox News — Additional national reporting on the charge and allegations.