ST. AUGUSTA, Min. — A newly released report from the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office provides more insight into the fatal crash at the Harvest of Horror Haunted Hayride on October 12, where 13-year-old Alexander Mick died.
The report states that a deputy was dispatched to Harvest of Horrors for a crash involving injuries and that the caller stated that a child had been run over by the trolley.
The deputy arrived on scene and found first responders performing CPR on Mick, of Rice. After assisting, the deputy spoke with Mick’s father, who also worked at the harvestman. According to the report, the man said his son was a first-year volunteer actor assigned as a “terror” who travels along the trailer as it moves. to scare customers. Scarers also reach under the trailer seat to grab customers’ feet.
Another employee later told investigators that they shared concerns with Mick’s father about his son’s size and age, describing the work as strenuous.
After escorting the father to a nearby field, the two spoke and discovered that the father worked at Harvest of Horror and was a friend of the owner. He had his 13-year-old volunteer as an actor in the field during the trolly ride.
Mick was appointed as a ‘scarer’, a person who travels alongside the trailer as it moves to frighten customers. Scarers also reach under the trailer seat to grab customers’ feet.
The document also states that the same employee had raised concerns about changes regarding the trailer. He said he would like to see steps to hold the bars on the side of the trailer, and lighting so workers could see the sides of the trailer.
The father was told that at one point his son jumped on and off the trolley to scare customers when the trolley ran him over, causing the boy to suffer serious head injuries. The report states that no one witnessed the accident, but that an employee felt “something was wrong.”
Johnson returned to the scene and coordinated additional responders to the scene. He also requested that Sheriff’s Explorers – young adults who learn about the first responder field – close part of the venue.
First responders pronounced Mick dead at the scene.
The county attorney’s office said in October that criminal charges were unlikely to be filed, and the police report concludes that “the case will be closed as Mick’s death is listed as an accident.”
Event organizers canceled the remaining dates of the ride following Mick’s death.
Mick’s mother, Teri Mick, described her son as “full of life” and said he was passionate about taekwondo, music, robotics and football. She says he was also on his way to becoming an Eagle Scout.
Note: The above video originally aired on October 14th
