Concrete company worker in central Minnesota gets trapped in machinery and is killed

The incident occurred Thursday morning at the Cemstone facility in Isle.

August 25, 2023 at 8:51PM

A worker for a Twin Cities-based concrete business got caught in machinery at its central Minnesota location and died, the Mille Lacs County Sheriff's Office said.

The incident occurred at about 7:45 a.m. at the Cemstone facility near Isle, Minn., according to the Sheriff's Office said.

The Sheriff's Office identified the worker as Chad M. Minenko, 45, of Isle.

Minenko, a Cemstone employee for the past 17 years, was hurt while working at an aggregate pit, according to a company statement.

"Chad was a valuable member of our close-knit team and was deeply respected by his co-workers and supervisors," the statement read. "We are working to provide assistance to support all our employees who are dealing with this tragedy."

Deputies responded to a 911 call about a worker trapped in gravel wash equipment. Fire and rescue personnel joined with other employees to free Minenko from the equipment, the Sheriff's Office said. He was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Onamia, where he died.

Minenko's death is being jointly investigated by the Sheriff's Office and the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration.

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Paul Walsh

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Paul Walsh is a general assignment reporter at the Minnesota Star Tribune. He wants your news tips, especially in and near Minnesota.

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