A 5-year-old boy from Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, is heading home after a terrifying tractor-wagon accident that left him and others injured during a school field trip in western Wisconsin. Gabe Mier, who sustained serious injuries, was airlifted to a Twin Cities hospital, leaving his family anxiously waiting for updates on his condition.
“For hours on end, we just laid there — held his hand and prayed for the best,” said Gabe’s father, Will Mier, recalling the tense moments after the accident.
The Mier family had joined a school field trip to an apple orchard in Lafayette, Wisconsin, last Wednesday. What started as a joyful outing quickly turned tragic when the tractor pulling a wagon full of students, parents, and staff tipped over, injuring around two dozen people. “It’s supposed to be a great family trip with all the classmates; it turned into one of the scariest days of our life,” Will Mier shared, to People.
Gabe himself described the frightening event: “The tractor made a big turn, we were going down a hill very fast. It jackknifed, it flipped over and the seats landed like ‘poof!’”
The young boy was immediately taken to the hospital, where he underwent surgery for a skull fracture. In addition to the fracture, Gabe suffered bumps, bruises, and scrapes. Despite the severity of his injuries, Gabe’s family remains incredibly grateful for his recovery.
“I always called him my miracle baby just because of everything — he continues to prove me correct,” said Gabe’s mother, Angie Mier. “He’s still my miracle baby.”
Gabe has since been released from the hospital, and in a few weeks, his parents expect he will no longer need the neck brace that’s helping him heal. “We are beyond blessed, he is able to play, talk to us, giggle, and do all these things we didn’t know if they’d ever happen again,” Angie said, relieved to see her son recovering so well.
Back at home, Gabe is enjoying his time playing with trains and snuggling with his favorite puppy, wrapped in his beloved Brewers/Packers blanket. The Mier family expressed immense gratitude to their community. “The people who have helped us, prayed for us, and been there for us, we are so blessed,” Angie added.
A fundraising page has been set up to help the family with expenses, including the cost of the air ambulance ride. Meanwhile, the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the cause of the accident.
