Roofers Return To Work at Viking Stadium Following Fatal Fall

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Crews from a roofing contractor have returned to work at the Minnesota Vikings' new stadium for the first time since one of their co-workers was killed and another seriously injured in an accident two weeks ago.

Berwald Roofing Inc. says it got clearance Thursday to resume work installing the roofing system at U.S. Bank Stadium, and crews were on the job Friday morning. President Eugene Berwald says they continue to feel the loss of an "exceptional employee."

Regulators say 35-year-old Jeramie Gruber, of Northfield, slid down the roof, broke through a guardrail and fell to an elevated platform. The worker who survived struck a post that stopped him, but needed 48 stitches for a deep leg cut.

Berwald employees are wearing hard hats that feature a decal in Gruber's memory.