After a hayride that crashed and overturned in Illinois, a 32-year-old woman was killed, and a dozen others were injured.
Over 20 people, 14 who were children, were riding on a square hay bale in a double-axle trailer that was being pulled by a John Deere tractor-trailer in Hancock County on Saturday, according to Illinois State Police in a news release.
The vehicle “lost control and ran off the right side” of the road, then overturned — ejecting both the driver, 41-year-old Wayne York, along with multiple passengers.
Amy Swinderman, of Hamilton, Illinois, was killed in the crash, according to the Hancock County Coroner’s Office.
A totla of 17 people, ranging in age from 1 to 43 years old, were injured and taken to a local area hospital.
Swinderman was a wife and mom to three young daughters, according to her GoFundMe page.
“Amy was a loving wife and mother. She was an amazing friend with a beautiful soul,” the page said.
“She was the light that filled the room with her presence. A smile that made a difference and brought you comfort.”
Just before boarding the trailer for a hayride, the group had attended a family event earlier in the day according to Illinois State Police Capt. Jon Dively Jr.
Dively stated how the crash occurred after the driver lost control of the vehicle while on an incline, which caused the tractor and wagon to slide down into a wooded ravine.
He added in an early investigation by the Illinois State Police traffic reconstruction team how he found that the tractor being used was “undersized” for the ride.