A Halloween stunt at a haunted hayride attraction resulted in the death of a 12-year-old boy in Harrison, Tennessee. The accident took place late on the night of October 11, 2024, at Haunted Hilltop, as per information provided by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO).

The Sheriff’s deputies rushed to the location around 10:45 p.m. following reports of a child being hit by a tractor. Upon arrival, they discovered that a group of minors, under adult supervision, had stationed themselves near the hayride path to startle the attendees. The boy, in his attempt to leap onto the moving trailer, slipped and fell under the wheels.

The boy, subsequently identified as Samuel Jessen, 12, was found unresponsive and declared dead at the scene. In a statement from the sheriff’s office, the HCSO extended their condolences to the deceased boy’s family and those present during the incident. They also requested the community to keep the family in their thoughts during this challenging time.

The Hamilton County Medical Examiner’s Office verified the age of the child but has refrained from releasing additional details because of the minor status of the deceased.

The operation of Haunted Hilltop was temporarily suspended after the accident. The attraction shared their sorrow through a statement, which read, “Our hearts and prayers go out to the family affected by this. Please keep us all in your prayers!”

This incident was followed by a similar accident the next night at a haunted hayride event in St. Augusta, Minnesota. A 13-year-old boy, Alexander Mick, lost his life after falling under a tractor-pulled trolley wagon during the event.

Investigations into both incidents are underway by local authorities, who extend their condolences to the grieving families. The operators of the haunted hayrides in both states have called off their upcoming events as a mark of respect for the victims’ families. Authorities are urging the community to exercise caution around such events to avoid similar incidents in the future.