Three people were taken to local hospitals Saturday after being thrown from a horse-drawn wagon at Lazy 5 Ranch in Mooresville, when a falling tree limb struck the wagon and spooked the horses pulling it. The rest of the passengers on board were either unharmed or declined medical attention at the scene.
According to Queen City News, officials said the limb struck the side of the wagon mid-ride, causing the horses to jump and three riders to fall off. EMS crews transported the three injured individuals to local hospitals for further evaluation and treatment, though the extent of their conditions was not known at the time. The remaining passengers were either unharmed or declined medical assistance, the outlet reported.
Lazy 5 Ranch said the wagon driver was doing well following the incident, and that the horses involved were not harmed. The horses have since returned to work, according to the ranch, which also said its thoughts and prayers were with everyone involved.
Ranch Says It Works to Manage Daily Risks
In a statement following the incident, Lazy 5 Ranch acknowledged that its horse-drawn wagon rides carry inherent risk, pointing to factors including animals, horses, people, equipment, and nature. The ranch said it addresses that risk daily, citing equipment design, driver education, horse selection, and road maintenance as part of its ongoing safety efforts, per the ranch's statement relayed by the same outlet.
The ranch noted that more than three million guests have experienced its horse-drawn wagon rides over its history, and said this was the first incident resulting in hospitalizations requiring an overnight stay. Lazy 5 Ranch added that the safety and well-being of its visitors, staff, and animals remain its highest priority, and that it will continue to take its safety responsibility seriously.
Not the Ranch's First Wagon Mishap
Saturday's incident was not the first time a wagon ride at Lazy 5 Ranch has ended with injuries. Back in February 2010, eleven people were treated for minor injuries at a hospital after a horse-drawn wagon wrecked at the ranch, according to the Hickory Record. A separate report from WBTV likewise described several people injured in a wagon accident at the ranch that same year.
Wagon and hayride mishaps have drawn attention elsewhere in recent months as well. In April, three mules pulling a wagon were involved in a crash elsewhere in North Carolina when the wagon flipped over, according to the Charlotte Observer. Earlier this month, a hayride crash in Ridgebury, Pennsylvania involved 20 young people from a German Baptist congregation riding in a wagon hitched to a tractor, as reported by The New York Times.
What North Carolina Law Says About Agritourism Risk
Under North Carolina General Statutes, agritourism activities like wagon rides carry inherent risks that can lead to injury, including a participant's failure to follow instructions from the agritourism professional or to exercise reasonable caution during the activity, according to the North Carolina General Statutes. State law also requires that signs and contracts tied to agritourism activities include a clearly readable warning notice, per a separate provision in the North Carolina General Statutes.
Separately, the North Carolina Department of Labor says its Elevator and Amusement Device Bureau inspects amusement rides at fairs, carnivals, and permanent parks for mechanical and structural safety. It remains unclear whether the Lazy 5 Ranch wagon falls under that inspection category, and no investigation, citation, or legal action tied to Saturday's incident has been confirmed.
