A Vikings stadium accident killed one worker Wednesday and left another man injured.
Jeramie Gruber, 35, died when he fell 50 feet onto a snow gutter at U.S. Bank Stadium
shortly into his shift for Berwald Roofing Co., The Associated Press reported. Another man on the project was also injured, although he did not fall from the roof.
KSTP reported that Gruber was trapped in the gutter and a basket and ropes had to be used to get him out.
John Wood, senior vice president with general contractor Mortenson Construction, told the AP it's not yet clear what happened in the accident. He was also unsure about how badly the unidentified worker was injured.
Work shut down on the job for the day, and reopened on Thursday morning.
"This is a very tragic day in the life of the stadium construction project," the AP quoted Wood from a news conference. When asked if the accident would impact the construction schedule to complete the stadium in time for Vikings preseason in August 2016, Wood told reporters, "We're not thinking about the construction schedule right now. We're thinking about these two men and their families."
KSTP said the roofing company has been cited by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration nine times over the past five years for "serious" violations, six of which involved workers not being "protected from falling."
Many online shared their shock at Gruber's death.
A friend, Josh Wells, posted on Facebook that he grieved the loss of a man who had been his friend since grade school.
"We shared the wilderness bond. That buck you talked to me about this winter is still out there. He will forever be yours. Outdoorsmen we are. You were my favorite redneck and I envied how straight of a shooter you were," he wrote. "The world needs more men like you, not less. Until we meet again my sweet friend. I love you and may the ducks fly low. #forever"