Tree lands on canopy which strikes man in the head

MOSCOW TOWNSHIP — A Byron man was killed Monday afternoon after a tree fell on him in eastern Freeborn County in Moscow Township.

Darrell Crawford, 70, was reportedly standing under a canopy at 86208 260th St. while others were attempting to pull a dead tree in the grove. The dead tree was reportedly lodged into another tree. When they started to pull, both trees apparently fell, causing one to fall into the canopy Crawford was standing under, according to a Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office news release.

A metal portion of the canopy apparently struck Crawford in the head, knocking him unconscious. Witnesses reportedly started CPR before a Freeborn County deputy sheriff arrived. The Sheriff’s Office was dispatched at 12:45 p.m.

The release stated efforts at CPR were unsuccessful, and Crawford was pronounced dead at the scene. Crawford was then taken to the medical examiner’s office for an autopsy.

Agencies that assisted the Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office were Hollandale First Responders, Clarks Grove First Responders, Gold Cross Ambulance out of Albert Lea and Austin and Mayo Three.