A Halloween themed hayride loaded with passengers crashed into a tree, killing one teen and injuring 20 in Mechanic Falls, Maine.
Instead of continuing to scare the passengers on the haunted hayride, the actors came to the rescue and likely prevented the accident from being worse, reports The Associated Press. Some of the actors even performed CPR on injured riders.
The actors couldn't save all of the passengers last night. Cassidy Charette, 17, died from her injuries after the crash.
"Our hearts and prayers go out to the family," farm spokesman Scott Lansley tells AP. "We're a tight community. This is really a tragedy for us."
The hay wagon was being pulled by David Brown, 54, in a 1974 Jeep, who was also hospitalized after the crash. Lansley tells AP Brown is an experienced commercial driver.
Investigators believe the hay wagon crashed due to a mechanical issue with the truck that kept it from stopping, reports CNN. The Jeep slammed into the tree after veering off the hayride path into a wooded area.
In Maine mechanical amusement rides are inspected by fire marshals before opening for public, but the hayride isn't an amusement ride under state law, reports AP.
For the past five years the farm hosted hayrides without any incidents, Lansley tells AP. The hayride grew popularity over the years and over 500 people were on the grounds last night for the event. Everyone was evacuated after the crash.
The investigation is continuing.
