Five children at Lake Cormorant Elementary School received minor cuts and bruises Thursday in a hayride accident during an end-of-the-year celebration at the school.

The accident occurred in the school's parking lot about 9:45 a.m. The school is near Walls in western DeSoto County.

Authorities said there were 12 children and three teachers sitting inside the last of three carts being pulled by a tractor. As the hayride rounded a curve in the parking lot, the final cart lurched to one side, causing several occupants to grab the guardrail, which broke, and the children fell to the ground.

Parents volunteering at the event and firemen with Walls Fire Department, which was at the field day celebration, responded quickly to help the students, said Katherine Nelson, DeSoto County Schools director of communications.

"This was supposed to be a fun year-end event with parents when this accident occurred," Nelson said. "We are thankful none of the children were seriously injured in this unfortunate accident."

Five children received non-life-threatening injuries. Two were taken by ambulance to Le Bonheur Children's Hospital in Memphis. Two others were taken to Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto. One child was taken by a private car to an area hospital.

The tractor was driven by one of the parents, who volunteered to bring his hayride to the school event.

The driver, who did not give his name, was shaken by the accident and refused to comment.

No charges will be filed against the driver because it was a "private lot accident involving a tractor," according to DeSoto County Sheriff's Department spokesman Dick Hackett.

After the accident, activities continued with students in neon-colored Field Day T-shirts playing on inflatable slides and bouncers set up on the school's lawn.

This week is the last full week of school for DeSoto County students, who end the school year Tuesday.

Some parents who volunteered at the event said they didn't see the hayride accident because they were busy helping other students with various activities.

-- Yolanda Jones: (901) 333-2014