Two 12-year-old boys were killed on Halloween hayrides to warn their families

This month, two boys were killed on hayrides, warning parents about the possible dangers of the popular fall activity ahead of Halloween.

Samuel “Sam” Jessen, 12, of Ooltewah, Tennessee, was struck by a tractor on the Haunted Hilltop hayride route in Chattanooga on Oct. 12, according to the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office.

Jessen hid in the bushes with his friends and tried to jump onto the trailer behind the tractor to scare the driver. He slipped and fell under the wheels. Police said he was unresponsive.

“Please pray for the Jessen family and also for our staff during this extremely difficult time,” Haunted Hilltop wrote on its Facebook page.

WITH THESE SIMPLE TIPS FROM FOOD EXPERTS, CHILDREN'S DINNER DON'T HAVE TO BE COMPLICATED

Alexander “Xander” Mick of Rice, Minn., also 12, was killed the same weekend when he was hit by a car at the Harvest of Horror Haunted Hayride in St. Augusta, the Stearns County Sheriff's Office said. Despite life-saving efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The sheriff's office said Tuesday that it appears Mick's death was an accident and no one saw how it happened. The boy was a volunteer at the event and “part of a group whose job was to scare drivers being pulled through the cornfield area,” they said.

Harvest of Horror announced it would cancel remaining events for the 2024 season “out of respect for the family involved.”

“After this incident occurred, Stearns County Sheriff’s Department deputies and other emergency medical personnel responded to the scene. A member of the sheriff's department initially instructed us to continue the event as normal to keep participants away from the scene of the accident. ” they wrote in a statement. “Sometime later, we were instructed by a sheriff's deputy to begin turning away guests and closing the event for the night. We followed all of their instructions throughout the evening.”

“We are deeply shocked by this event and ask for thoughts, prayers and support for the family and friends of those affected, as well as for everyone affected by this tragedy,” they continued.

Grateful children make parents happier and less stressed, a new study suggests

Alexander “Xander” Mick of Rice, Minnesota, 12, was killed when he was struck by a car at the Harvest of Horror Haunted Hayride in St. Augusta on Oct. 11. (cultural funeral home)

Both boys' families started GoFundMe initiatives to cover medical and funeral costs.

Xander played drums, was in a band, sang in the choir, participated in taekwondo and, according to his obituary, was “almost an Eagle Scout.”

“Xander was always so helpful, scientific, very tech-savvy, loved computers, full of energy, had a great sense of humor and an infectious smile,” the obituary reads. “He loved Jesus with all his heart and shared this with others. Xander was known for his unique white hair, he could be recognized from far away.

HALLOWEEN MOVIE LOVERS CAN TAKE A ROAD TRIP ALONG THE EAST COAST TO THESE SCARY PLACES

According to his obituary, Jessen, who was in seventh grade, had a passion for football. The young quarterback aspired to play for the Kansas City Chiefs. He was also an “avid reader and [an] “Incredible writer,” the obituary continued.

“Sam definitely had a zest for life. It was contagious. His smile (along with his recently installed braces) lit up any room he was in,” the obituary reads. “Sam was feisty and fearless, but also compassionate and kind.”

Safety when driving hay

According to its website, Nationwide Children's Hospital makes several recommendations to ensure the safety of children on hayrides.

The hospital recommends reading the posted rules before driving and explaining them to your children. Employees – including the ticket seller, the person helping you get into the car or trailer, and the tractor driver – should be listened to carefully.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Nationwide Children's Hospital recommends reading and explaining the posted hayride rules to your children, listening to the drivers, and remaining seated during the ride. (iStock)

Once seated, riders should remain seated and hold onto the railing throughout the ride. Adults should hold their small children tightly.

If you're not on the hayride, it's important to stay out of its way and warn children not to do the same.

Finally, if you have concerns about the ride or its operator, trust your instincts and find another seasonal activity you can do as a family, the hospital recommends.