Jenny's Market Near Dexter Closes Hayride Indefinitely Following Employee Injury
Managers will evaluate the safety of future hayrides at the farm.
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A popular attraction at Jenny's Farm Market, just outside of Dexter, will be closed indefinitely to evaluate the safety of its riders, officials said Monday.
Following a hayride accident at the farm during which one person was injured Saturday afternoon after falling from the hayride trailer, manager Jessica Reeve said the ride will be closed for the remainder of the year.
"We want to see what needs to be done in order to make the ride more safe for our guests," Reeve said.
The hayride takes passengers through a wooded area and cornfield, giving passengers a guided tour of the farm.
"There's a section of the trail where the horses have to go down a hill, which is where everything went bad on Saturday," Reeve said. "It's not steep, but once the horses get going, the carriage can go pretty fast."
Reeve said due to the accident, the farm is evaluating plans to move the hayride trail in the future to avoid the hill.
Reeve said she did not know the condition of the 23-year-old woman who was trampled by the ride. The woman had been working at the farm for less than a month.
"All I know is that she's still in the hospital," she said.
According to Ann Arbor.com, the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office, Webster Township officials, Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration are still investigating the accident.
Burt Hoey, owner of the market, was unavailable for comment.
The name of the woman is not being released.
Marilyn Wilkie
9:01 am on Tuesday, September 27, 2011
I applaud any efforts they make to make these rides safer. Many have been concerned with the wagons pulling out onto Island Lk. Rd., mixing with often fast-moving card near the intersection. They go west up the hill, with drivers behind them, often impatient to pass on the hill. Drivers already drive too fast on Island Lake. There is no posted speed limit, so the limit is 55 mph by default.
Laurie Higgins
11:09 am on Tuesday, September 27, 2011
My major concern with Jenny's Market on the corner has always been the amount of traffic mixed with the number of small children so close to the road. As a mother of two, and a teacher, I have never felt comfortable taking my children, or class there. I live on Island Lake Rd. and pass the market many times during the day. I've seen too many children, supervised and unsupervised, come close to getting hit. I hope that one of the things being evaluated is the lack and location of parking during the busy fall season.
Marilyn Wilkie
11:41 am on Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Laurie, I live just west on Island Lake Rd. and always worried about children running out into either Dexter-Pinckney or Island Lake roads. They have finally put a open rail fence up but I'm not sure this would defer a wandering child. I'm seeing, according to subsequent articles, that there aren't any regulations to protect anyone in an operation like this, and it's every man (woman, child) for themselves down there.
ronmelancon
8:32 am on Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Here comes the lawsuits.....that is why they are suspending the hayrides..
Alice Morrison
5:21 pm on Sunday, October 9, 2011
I cannot BELIEVE they have restarted the wagon rides without any public statement that they have fixed anything or made anything safer? I was appalled when I drove by today and saw another innocent employee and families riding when only a few weeks a woman was paralyzed! How quickly people forget!
Marilyn Wilkie
6:21 pm on Sunday, October 9, 2011
Allison, they restarted them last weekend. Go to annarbor.com and you will see a "news" article which some consider an ad for the market. Don't miss the quotes from the owner.
Marilyn Wilkie
2:48 pm on Monday, October 10, 2011
Here is the latest "reported" incident from yesterday. http://www.annarbor.com/news/dexter/22-month-old-child-thrown-from-horse-at-jennys-dexter-market/
Daniel Lai
2:54 pm on Monday, October 10, 2011
The organization in general does not like to return phone calls.
Marilyn Wilkie
4:57 pm on Monday, October 10, 2011
Why am I not surprised at that Daniel? You're doing a great job with the Dexter Patch. I hope you know that you are appreciated. I can imagine how busy you are.
Daniel Lai
8:00 pm on Monday, October 10, 2011
Thanks, Marilyn. Glad you are enjoying it!