The Northfield roofer who lost his life this week while working on the Vikings’ new stadium died of “blunt force injuries to the head” sustained in a 50-foot fall.
That’s the conclusion of the Hennepin County Medical Examiner, which performed an autopsy on the body of 35-year-old Jeramie Gruber, who was one of two men rushed to the hospital after a rescue operation at the massive construction site on Wednesday.
The unidentified survivor was seriously hurt, though KSTP says he has left the hospital.
The two Berwald Roofing employees were working on the rooftop of the stadium when an unknown accident sent Gruber plummeting into a gutter below.
How that accident occurred is still under investigation, the Star Tribune reports.
Gruber was named as the deceased by his family in the hours following the accident – according to KARE 11, they described him as an outdoorsman who lived fishing and hunting.
Meanwhile, his high school history teacher told the Star Tribune Gruber he was a “special kid” whose love of sports likely made him “thrilled to be working on the new Vikings stadium.”
He is survived by his wife, Amy, for whom a GoFundMe account has been established – fundraisers are seeking $10,000 to help ease Mrs. Gruber’s financial burden “during this difficult time.”
According to an update on the profile, the Vikings will wear the late worker’s initials on their helmets and uniforms during Saturday night’s game against the Dallas Cowboys.
