Man killed when house he was moving in Beltrami County falls on him

October 17, 2017 at 8:41PM

A northern Minnesota man was killed Sunday when a small home he was helping to move onto a foundation fell from its supports, trapping him beneath it.

Joshua L. O'Brien, 25, of Blackduck, died and two others were injured in the accident, which occurred shortly before 11 a.m. outside Kelliher in Shotley Township, about 60 miles north of Bemidji on the south shore of Upper Red Lake.

According to the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office, Kelliher and others were working to place a small home on a foundation when the house fell from the jacks, wood posts and concrete blocks being used to lift and support the building. O'Brien was trapped underneath it.

Fire and rescue workers were able to pull O'Brien from the building and tried to save him but were unsuccessful. Christopher O'Brien, 52, of Blackduck, was taken by helicopter to a Grand Forks hospital with unknown injuries. Matthew Hjelden, 49, of Cloquet, was taken by private vehicle to receive medical care. Their conditions are unknown.

The Beltrami County Coroner's Office is investigating.

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