ST AUGUSTA, Minn. — Alexander "Xander" Mick, the 13-year-old boy who died on Oct. 12 at a haunted hayride, was volunteering when the deadly incident occurred, officials say.
The Stearns County Sheriff's Office said Mick was a volunteer at the Harvest of Horror Haunted Hayride in St. Augusta when he was run over by a trolley wagon being pulled by a tractor. According to a press release, Mick's job at the hayride was to frighten the riders being pulled through the cornfield area.
Nobody witnessed the incident, but deputies say that the initial investigation indicates that it was an accident.
Officials say staff and bystanders, including an off-duty police officer and an off-duty medic, immediately started to render aid, but Mick was pronounced dead at the scene.
The obituary described Mick as an active eighth-grader at Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School who was involved in band, choir, robotics, soccer, Taekwondo and Boy Scouts. He was also very involved in his faith community, where he worked with kids and played in the praise band.
"Xander was always so helpful, scientific, very techy, loved computers, was full of energy, had a great sense of humor and an infectious smile. He loved Jesus with all his heart and shared that with others," reads the obituary published on the Williams Dingmann Funeral Home website. "Xander was kind, very polite, unique, creative, investigative, and saw the good in everyone. He always tried to be first to say, 'Love you more.'”
The hayride announced last week that it would be closing for the season.
A GoFundMe has been set up to support Mick's family. As of Tuesday, it had raised nearly $41,000, which exceeds the initial goal of $30,000.
"We are so overwhelmed by the love and generosity of our friends and community that helped us reach our goal," the organizers wrote in an update on the fundraiser. "Any further funds donated after meeting the Mick’s expenses will be used as memorials in Xander’s name to bless families, ministries, and organizations in our communities."