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Wagon Driver Dies Following Crash At Willmar Christmas Event

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- An 80-year-old south-central Minnesota man died less than a week after a team of horses pulling a wagon he was operating went out of control.

Officials say Fred Zwart of New London suffered a heart attack during Saturday's incident in Willmar.

There were 15 people in the wagon and some of the riders say Zwart did all he could to keep the wagon from rolling over.

The horses somehow became scared and pulled the wagon into a freestanding basketball pole before the animals were brought under control.

Zwart died yesterday at Hennepin County Medical Center.

The horse wagon ride was part of a Christmas light celebration that's also a Salvation Army fundraiser. The display shut down after the incident Saturday night. Operations resumed Sunday evening.

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