South St. Paul Man's Arm Saved From Salt Spreader

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A 35-year-old South St. Paul man escaped from having his arm stuck in the conveyer of a salt spreader last Friday thanks to the quick action of first responders.

Woodbury Public Safety officials responded at about 2 p.m. to a call that a man had his arm stuck in a conveyer. Woodbury police and fire officials responded to the scene along with emergency medical personnel.

When they got to the scene, the man, identified as Justin Johnson of South St. Paul, was standing on a ladder with his arm stuck in the conveyer of a large salt spreader. It was being cleaned and held up by a skid steer about six feet in the air. Johnson had the safety off button in his pocket and was able to stop the spreader from pulling him in further.

The unit couldn't be lowered due to muddy and unstable ground conditions. The Woodbury Public Works Department brought a front end loader to stabilize it. Firefighters dismantled the salt spreader by unbolting, prying and cutting through it to release the man's arm.

Johnson was in shock and had a broken arm with compression injuries. He was taken to a hospital and officials say he will hopefully continue to have full use of his arm.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Johnson with his medical expenses as he faces additional surgeries.