A Belgrade teenager who was seriously injured in Saturday night’s haunted hayride crash that killed an Oakland teenager and injured 22 others has been released from Boston Children’s Hospital, relatives said.
Connor Garland, 16, was released from the hospital, according to a post Thursday night on the “Help the Garland Family! Messalonskee Strong!” Facebook page by his aunt, Valerie Belknap. Previous posts on the site said Garland suffered a broken jaw and injured his back in the accident, and he underwent surgery Monday and Tuesday.
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The family is “so excited to report that Connor has left Boston Children’s Hospital! Another step in the process of healing! Thank you everyone for all of your prayers and positive thoughts,” Belknap wrote on the Facebook page.
Saturday night’s hayride accident at Harvest Hill Farms in Mechanic Falls – which killed 17-year-old Cassidy Charette of Oakland – is still under investigation by Maine State Police.
Police have said the focus of the investigation is on the 1979 Jeep CJ-5 that was towing the hayride trailer. The Jeep went out of control down a long, steep hill and crashed into trees, throwing off the driver and passengers.
Investigators have said it appears likely that a mechanical malfunction caused the vehicle’s brakes to stop working, but have not provided more details.
Department of Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland said Thursday night that the Jeep has been impounded by state police. “The Jeep has not yet been inspected,” he said. “And interviews are continuing.”
Garland, a baseball player at Messalonskee High School in Oakland, posted on his Facebook page Wednesday night that he was thankful for the time he had with Charette, saying they started dating on Aug. 16.
“I will miss you more and more every day. Everyone loves and misses you,” Garland wrote. “I will see your beautiful smile again some day.”
Thursday morning, Belknap had posted on the Facebook page that the Garlands “want everyone to know how grateful they are for everyone’s continued love and support, but they are nowhere near ready to speak to the media.”
Since the accident, the Messalonskee community has gathered at several events – sports games, a fundraiser and candlelight vigil – to show support for Charette, Garland and the others injured.
A memorial service for Charette is scheduled at 1 p.m. Friday at the Thomas College gymnasium in Waterville. A funeral Mass for Charette will be held Saturday at Notre Dame Church in Waterville.
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