Man suffocates in Minneapolis compost pile of leaves, plastic

Last update: October 29, 2008 - 8:22 AM

A temporary worker died accidentally Monday afternoon while pulling plastic bags off of leaves at a composting business in north Minneapolis.

The 21-year-old man, whose name hasn't been released, fell into the pile of leaves and plastic bags at Organic Tech Inc., 3750 Washington Av. N., and apparently suffocated, police spokesman Jesse Garcia said.

"It was a freak accident," he said. "It sounds like he was working hard and trying to make a better life. It was pretty sad."

The man was dead when police arrived about 2:30 p.m. at the company.

JIM ADAMS

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