'Spooked' cow tramples 8-year-old boy to death

GEORGETOWN, MA (KTRK) -- A community is heartbroken after a tragic accident claimed the life of an 8-year-old boy.

Investigators say a spooked cow trampled the boy to death while he was preparing the livestock to go to a fair, WCVB-TV reports.

George Carter's teacher, Rose McPherson, laid flowers and condolences for the boy she taught in school, and called him a "special" student.

Carter and his father were exercising the cows when one of the animals took off, trampling and dragging the boy across their farmland, says the Essex County DA's office.

The boy's aunt says George died at the hospital. His father was also injured.

The family has raised cattle on the farm for decades, and many in the neighborhood say the cows have gotten loose on the streets before.

But no one could have expected the normally docile cows to injure or kill someone, neighbors say.

The family was preparing for the Barstable Fair when the tragic accident happened.

His family says anyone who knew him loved him dearly.