MECHANIC FALLS, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- Pumpkin Land is back in business a day-and-a-half after a deadly hay ride accident took the life of an Oakland, Maine teen and injured 22 others.
But the accident raised questions about the safety and oversight of hay ride operations around the state.
Cassidy Charette, 17, died from injuries sustained after the jeep pulling the tractor she was riding on had a mechanical failure and careened into trees.
5 people remain hospitalized with broken bones; three at Central Maine Medical Center, one at Maine Medical Center and one at Boston Children's Hospital.
On Columbus Day, car loads of families pulled in to enjoy the tail end of the holiday weekend at Pumpkin Land. Most had only mild concerns about the accident.
"I don't think we'll go on a hayride, but the kids are just gonna play around," Tim Coombs said, who was visiting with his wife and two young daughters.
"What happened was terrible, but it doesn't mean it would happen again," Amanda Coombs said.
Following the accident, the owners of Harvest Hill Farms decidedto shut down the Gauntlet Ride, which was the after-dark ride Charette and her friends were on.
"Pretty much, it was a no brainer for us, not to run it the rest of the year out of respect for the families," Scott Lansley, a spokesman for Harvest Hill Farms, said.
But what about the hundreds of daytime hayrides Pumpkin Land and many other farms in Maine operate each fall?
"All I can say is, we're regulated by the Fire Marshal's Office and if there are question about any equipment or permitting people can check with them," Lansley said.
But in fact, the State Fire Marshal's office does not regulate or inspect hay rides.
"Haunted hayrides are not licensed by the state of Maine," Sgt. Joel Davis told reporters who gathered at the farm after the accident.
He said they came to Pumpkin Land to investigate the accident at the request of the District Attorney's office.
Fire Marshal Joe Thomas confirmed that their office only has oversight of mechanical rides, such as ferris wheels and roller coasters. Their best advice?
"All I can say is when people go on those rides, they have to take the initiative to make sure it looks appropriate," Sgt. Davis said.
