Teen dies after being run over by wagon pulled by tractor at haunted hayride in Stearns County
ST. AUGUSTA, Minn. — A 13-year-old boy is dead after being run over by a trolley wagon being pulled by a tractor at a haunted hayride.
The Stearns County Sheriff's Office said it happened Saturday night south of St. Cloud in St. Augusta at the Harvest of Horror Haunted Hayride, located at 4108 200th St.
Authorities say they received a report that a boy had been run over just after 7:30 p.m.
The Stearns County Sheriff's Office says Alexander "Xander" Mick, who was from Rice, died at the scene.
"Xander was an amazingly unique child who loved Jesus with all his heart," Teri Mick, Xander Mick's mom, said. "He was full of life, a junior black belt in taekwondo, played drums for the worship team, he was in band, sang in choir, in robotics and soccer and almost was an Eagle Scout."
She wrote on Facebook, "Hold your babies tight. I would do anything to hold my baby again."
Many of the comments on Facebook from those who knew Mick best expressed how sweet he was and what a positive attitude and great smile he had.
The incident is under investigation. In a statement released on Tuesday morning, event organizers said they will "cancel the remaining nights of the 2024 Harvest of Horror" out of respect for the victim's family. Below is their full statement:
"With deep sadness organizers of the Harvest of Horror Haunted Hayride share that a tragic accident occurred at the event on the evening of Saturday, October 12th, 2024. The incident involved the event's hayride and resulted in a fatality.
Harvest of Horror partners with the Stearns County Sheriff's Office Explorer Program. Numerous young adults from this program are present during each night of the event, moving around the grounds to add a level of security and safety.
After this incident occurred representatives of the Stearns County Sheriff's Department and other emergency medical personnel reported to the scene. A member of the Sheriff's Department initially instructed us to keep the event operating as usual so as to keep attendees away from the accident scene.
Sometime later we were instructed by a Sheriff's deputy to begin turning away guests and closing down the event for the night. We complied with all of their instructions throughout the evening. We are cooperating fully with the authorities and are grateful for their support.
We are deeply shaken by this event and are asking for thoughts, prayers and support for the family and friends of the individual involved and all those affected by this tragedy.
Out of respect to the family involved, the organizers have made the decision to cancel the remaining nights of the 2024 Harvest of Horror."
