ST AUGUSTA, Minn. — A haunted hayride is ending the season early out of respect for the family of a 13-year-old who died there over the weekend.
According to the Stearns County Sheriff's Office, the teen was at the Harvest of Horror Haunted Hayride in St. Augusta Saturday night when he was run over by a trolley wagon being pulled by a tractor.
The teen was identified as Alexander 'Xander' Mick of Rice.
Staff and bystanders, including an off-duty police officer and an off-duty medic, immediately started to render aid, the sheriff's office said in a statement. Despite efforts to save his life, Mick was pronounced dead at the scene.
The obituary for Mick describes him as helpful, scientific, very techy, full of energy, someone with a great sense of humor and an infectious smile. He was an eighth grade student at Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School where he was in band, choir, robotics, and soccer. He also did Taekwondo, Boy Scouts, and was a member of Discovery Church.
"Xander was an amazingly unique child who loved Jesus with all his heart and is happily in the arms of Jesus right now," said his mother, Teri Dahlberg Mick. "He was full of life."
The Harvest of Horror Haunted Hayride shared on its website that when the accident happened, the sheriff's office initially instructed staff to keep the event going to keep people away from the scene, before turning guests away and closing down for the night.
Organizers say they 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."
A GoFundMe has also been set up to support Mick's family. As of Tuesday, it had garnered more than $16,000 toward its $30,000 goal.
A funeral is being held for Mick on Monday, Oct. 21, in Sauk Rapids.
