Two boys were recently killed in tractor accidents at separate Halloween-themed haunted hayride attractions, authorities said.
The first boy died at the Haunted Hilltop Halloween event in Hamilton County, Tennessee, on October 11th at approximately 10:45 p.m. According to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department, a group of children at the event were playing near a hay tractor path.
A chaperone with the group told sheriff’s deputies that the children were “behind the bushes trying to scare the hayrides.” One of them apparently tried to jump onto the trailer, but slipped and fell under the tractor’s wheels.
“A young child apparently hid in the bushes, climbed over the fence, and when the hayride trailer passed, jumped out and attempted to climb onto the side of the trailer, only to be struck by the trailer,” the attraction wrote on Facebook. We want the community to give the boy’s family time to grieve.
The Chattanooga Times Free Press reported the victim was 12-year-old Samuel Jessen. A GoFundMe has been set up to help the Jessen family with funeral expenses.
A similar tragedy occurred just before 8 p.m. on October 12 at the Harvest of Horror Haunted Hayride attraction in St. Augusta, Minnesota. The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that 13-year-old Alexander Mick appears to have been hit by a wagon being pulled by a tractor.
Participants and paramedics attempted to save the boy’s life, but he died at the scene. His mother, Terry Mick, described her late child as “an amazingly unique child who truly loved Jesus.”
“He was full of energy, had a junior black belt in Taekwondo, played drums on the worship team, was in the band, sang in the choir, was active in robotics, soccer, and was almost an Eagle Scout.” she told CBS News.
“We are cooperating fully with authorities and appreciate the assistance,” the attraction said in a statement on its website.
“We are deeply shaken by this incident and ask for our thoughts, prayers and support for the families and friends of those involved and all those affected by this tragedy,” they said.
Organizers have made the decision to cancel the remaining nights of Harvest of Horror in 2024 out of respect for the families of those involved.
According to the Northern Kentucky Tribune, hayrides became popular in the late 19th century among urban families taking leisure trips. According to the publication, camping tourists from cities to the countryside read “idealized descriptions of hayrides in children’s books,” and rural farmers used this to market authentic hayrides.
These vehicles, which spread hay on wagons, were popular with farmers. More money was made by providing rides to “summer people” than by selling hay outright.
Although there are voluntary safety standards for hayride drivers, meaningful regulation remains lacking, the Tribune said. In 2023, agritourism consulting firm White Hutchinson announced that at least 24 people have been killed and 204 injured in hayride accidents in the United States since 2000.
For example, 10 years ago, a 17-year-old girl died after sliding down a hill and hitting a tree on a haunted hayride in Maine. More than 20 other people were injured in the incident, according to the Associated Press.
