Boy dies during haunted hayride after he falls under tractor, Tennessee deputies say
A boy died after he slipped and fell from a tractor during a Halloween hayride in Tennessee, deputies say.
The child was trying to scare people Friday, Oct. 11 at The Haunted Hilltop in Harrison,when a chaperone said the boy tried jumping on the tractor from some bushes, according to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.
He fell underneath its wheels and was run over, deputies said in an Oct. 12 news release.
Authorities were called about the accident around 10:45 p.m. They found the boy unresponsive and he was declared dead at the scene, according to authorities.
“The HCSO family extends our thoughts and sympathy to the family of the deceased juvenile, as well as the others who witnessed the tragic event,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
“We ask the community also keep this family in their prayers during this difficult time.”
McClatchy News reached out to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office for more information Oct. 14 and was awaiting a response.
Tennessee station WRCB reported the child was a student at the Chattanooga School for Liberal Arts. The school launched a GoFundMe to help his family after the tragic accident, the station reported.
A friend of the family identified the boy as Sam Jessen, according to the GoFundMe.
“Sam was so full of life, and this is a devastating loss for his family and community,” it read.
The Haunted Hilltop announced on Facebook that it would remain closed Saturday after the accident. It’s not clear if the attraction has since reopened.
Harrison is about a 15-mile drive northeast from Chattanooga.
This story was originally published October 14, 2024 at 11:15 AM with the headline "Boy dies during haunted hayride after he falls under tractor, Tennessee deputies say."