13-year-old boy killed in haunted hayride after being run over by wagon

ST. AUGUSTA, Minn. (WCCO/WQOW) – An investigation is underway after a 13-year-old boy was killed at a haunted hayride in Minnesota when he was struck by a tractor-pulled trolley.

Investigators say 13-year-old Alexander “Xander” Mick was killed Saturday night when he was struck by a tractor-trailer at the Harvest of Horror Haunted Hayride in St. Louis.

Xander’s mother, Teri Mick, says he was “full of life.” Among other activities, he practiced taekwondo, played drums and football and was a scout.

“Hold your babies tight. I would do anything to hold my baby again,” she wrote on Facebook.

There are still many unanswered questions about the incident, including who was driving the tractor and what Xander was doing when it happened. A spokesperson for the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday that they are still investigating.

An eerily similar incident occurred at a haunted hayride in Tennessee the night before Xander died. The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office says 12-year-old Samuel Jessen died after accidentally falling under a trailer and being run over.

There are few state regulations in Minnesota when it comes to the growing agritourism industry.

Children are at risk whenever they are near agricultural equipment. New research shows that around 115 children die every year in agriculture-related incidents. The vast majority of these injuries happen when children are not even working.

Casper Bendixsen, director of the National Farm Medicine Center, says that while it’s good that agritourism is becoming more popular, farmers could use some help as they expand into hospitality.

“There is a lot at stake. It’s not just the human health of visitors and workers, there’s a business at stake. There is a community at stake,” he said.

Harvest of Horror tour organizers have canceled the remaining nights of the event out of respect for Xander’s family.