1 Dead, Over 20 Injured In Hayride [UPDATE]

The State Fire Marshals office says one person has died and 22 others were injured of which 2 are in critical condition after a hay wagon flipped over in Mechanic Falls last night.

The Maine Fire Marshal's Office says the teen who died over night is Cassidy Charette (17) of Oakland who was with several others students from Messalonskee High School in Oakland. The teen most seriously injured is from the same group - Connor Garland (16) from Belgrade. He is now being treated at Boston Childrens Hospital. The driver of the Jeep is David Brown (54) of South Paris. He is being treated at CMMC in Lewiston.  State Police have impounded the Jeep and will conduct a safety inspection of it. Many of those injured have been treated and released, but some remain hospitalized.

A hay wagon being pulled by a Jeep lost control, careened down a hill, struck a tree and overturned at Harvest Hill Farms for the Gauntlet Haunted Night Ride in Mechanic Falls around 8:30PM Saturday.15 people were taken to CMMC in Lewiston, 7 to Saint Mary's in Lewiston, and 1 to Maine Medical Center.

Investigators say a mechanical problem with the Jeep may have caused the driver to lose control and State Police will conduct an inspection of it. Fire Marshals were one of several first responders who went to the scene. Fire Marshals are responsible for licensing mechanical amusement rides in Maine, however the hay ride did not require such licensing.