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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Hauser corn maze fined $14,000 over teen’s death

Jeremy McSpadden Jr. died Friday when he was struck and killed by a “zombie slayer bus” at the Incredible Corn Maze in Hauser Lake.
The Incredible Corn Maze in Hauser has been fined $14,000 by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration for last October’s death of a Spokane Valley teenaged worker dressed as a zombie when he slipped beneath and was crushed by a school bus. Jeremy T. McSpadden Jr., 18, died Oct. 10 when he was run over by the converted “zombie slayer” bus that was part of the Halloween attraction. McSpadden, a West Valley High School senior who was working at the site, ran up to the bus, tripped and fell under the rear wheel, witnesses told investigators. NW Creative Solutions, LLC, which operated the Incredible Corn Maze, was cited for three serious violations, OSHA said. • Failing to furnish employment and a place of employment free from recognized hazards that caused or were likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees from tripping and being struck or run over by a motor vehicle. • Failing to ensure that eye and face protective equipment was maintained in usable condition after being shot with paintballs, which obstructed the vision of zombie role-players. • Failing to train employees how to prevent goggles from fogging or how to clean goggles when paint obstructed their vision when shot at close range with paintballs. McSpadden was working his first shift at the corn maze with his cousins and friends. They were paid to portray zombies for visitors to shoot with paintball guns from the school bus as it rolled through the cornfield along North Beck Road. The night turned tragic when McSpadden lost his footing and fell under the slow-moving bus. His head was caught under a rear wheel and he was killed instantly. NW Creative Solutions, LLC is operated by Greenacres resident Suzie Dunn. The Incredible Corn Maze reopened for a time after McSpadden’s death, then closed early for the season. The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office investigated the death and found no crime had been committed.