Tree trimmer's death an accident, jury rules

A Carol Stream man who died in a tree-removal accident in Campton Hills built the machine that ended up killing him, a relative said.

The Sept. 19 death of Jeffrey M. Gring, 54, was ruled an accident by a Kane County coroner's jury Wednesday. Gring was killed when a large crane he had built for his tree-removal business broke loose from its base and crushed him during a job on West Mary Drive.

At an inquest, Gring's sister, Dana Wall, said Gring was an "inventor-type" who had labored over the equipment, which was mounted to a truck bed.

"He absolutely loved this piece of machinery," she said. "He was always making stuff and trying to find a better way to do something."

Campton Hills police Officer Randy Johnson said officers were called to the scene about 6:30 p.m. after the crane's 25- to 30-foot boom fell over. Gring was unable to get out of the way and became entangled updside-down in the machinery. He likely died instantly, authorities said.

Johnson said equipment inspectors and OSHA representatives later determined that the base of the equipment had several recent welds that "were not very good." The officer said he was told the machinery "never would have passed an inspection."

Wall testified on behalf of Gring's survivors, describing her brother as a "good guy" who loved his work and children and served a higher power.

"He wanted to do tree work until he died - and he got his wish," Wall said.

"It was no accident by God's terms."