State authorities have charged the owner of a dairy farm in central New York where a 14-year-old was killed last year, crushed under a hydraulic lift.

The attorney general’s office says Wednesday that Luke Park is accused of falsifying business records and violating child labor laws at the Park Family Farm in Homer.

Park was arraigned in Homer Town Court and released. He’s due back in court Aug. 16. The answering machine at his farm wasn’t accepting new messages Wednesday.

Authorities say Alex Smith was killed while operating a Skidloader with a hydraulic lift and fork attachment, preparing bales of hay for cow feed, though by law he was too young to operate the heavy equipment.

The complaint alleges Park employed other minors for about 60 hours a week, more than the 48-hour limit for 16- and 17-year-olds.

By: Associated Press
Source: Agweb.com