Crane operator dies after accident in Maplewood

A Kanabec County man has died after a crane he was operating tipped over at a construction site in Maplewood on Monday afternoon.

Maplewood Deputy Chief Dave Kvam said police arrived at the St. Paul Hmong Alliance Church to find construction workers attempting to dig out Cory Lewellin, 34, of Ogilvie, Minn.

"There was some loose sand and dirt there that had sort of impacted into the cab," Kvam said. "Public safety personnel provided emergency medical support and assistance as they worked to extricate him."

After he was freed, medical personnel transferred Lewellin to Regions Hospital in St. Paul where he died.

The crane is owned by Truck Crane Service of Eagan. An employee there said Lewellin was not employed by the company and declined further comment.

Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry spokesman James Honerman said two Minnesota OSHA inspectors were sent to the site to investigate the accident.