Pumpkin Patch Bounce Pad Kills 2-Year-Old

On Wednesday, October 3, 2018, a 2-year-old boy was killed at a pumpkin farm just north of Lincoln, Nebraska, as reported by KETV NewsWatch 7.

Caleb Acuna, his mother, and his 5-year-old sister were at a private event at JK’s Pumpkin Patch Wednesday evening. The three were on top of a 60×40 inflatable pumpkin, when a nearly 60 mile per hour wind gust picked up and folded the inflatable.

The mother and sister were thrown from the pad. The sister sustained a broken arm that was later treated at the hospital. The mother was unharmed. According to Lancaster County Sheriff, Terry Wagner, it is believed the boy was trapped inside the pad when it folded in half and traveled some distance before coming back down to the ground.

Acuna was rushed to the hospital Wednesday night after sustaining severe head trauma. Because of the significant amount of brain damage, he was pronounced deceased on Thursday afternoon. His loved ones had him removed from life support the next day. A GoFundMe account has been established to assist the family with medical expenses and funeral costs.

A spokesperson for the Acuna family released the following statement: “They are struggling to learn how and why this tragedy occurred. The family appreciates the comfort and support of the community and requests that their privacy be respected at this difficult time. They will not be making any further statements at this time.”

JK’s Pumpkin Patch has not released any comments and did close after the incident. They plan to reopen soon. The bounce pad was a new attraction this year. Wagner believes the pad was anchored to the ground; however, he is uncertain as to how many stakes were used to secure the inflatable. According to a spokesperson from the Nebraska Department of Labor, these types of bounce pads are not regulated by the state because they do not meet the definition of an amusement ride.

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