The death of a Spokane Valley teen at the Incredible Corn Maze last weekend has attracted the attention of the U.S. Department of Labor.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration sent an investigator from Boise to determine if the death of Jeremy McSpadden, 18, was work-related.

"We heard about it through the news and contacted the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office," said Kerry Robinson, assistant area director for OSHA. "It sounded like it was work-related, and whenever there is a work-related death, we investigate."

McSpadden died Friday night at the Zombie Slayer Paintball Bus attraction at the Incredible Corn Maze, located near Hauser. The new attraction allowed patrons to board a school bus modified with paintball guns mounted outside the windows. While riding the bus, patrons could shoot paintballs at actors dressed as zombies, who would pretend to attack the bus.

Sheriff's office investigators determined that McSpadden, while acting as a zombie, was killed instantly when he stumbled and was hit by the bus.

The sheriff's office has determined the death to be an accident, so no criminal investigation is taking place.

Robinson said OSHA's statute of limitations is six months, so it tries to complete investigations as soon as possible. "We are still trying to determine if it was work-related because that would determine jurisdiction," he said, adding there is a question as to McSpadden's employment status.

Suzie Dunn, of the Incredible Corn Maze, could not be reached for comment Wednesday. However, there was a message posted on the Incredible Corn Maze Facebook page that indicated McSpadden may have been a volunteer.

"But this would still be considered work-related if he was compensated in some way," Robinson said. "I am sure it will get more complex with the attorneys involved as well.

"We are pretty straightforward about this," he added. "We want to find the cause of this and put things in place so this doesn't happen again."

The Facebook message posted Tuesday evening stated the corn maze will reopen Saturday but the "Zombie Slayer Paintball Bus" attraction will remain closed.

The whole Facebook post is printed below:

"There are truly no words to express how heartbroken we are as a result of last weekend's tragic accident. We are sending constant loving thoughts and prayers to Jeremy's family and everyone who has been affected. We are a very close knit group. All of our volunteers are like family to us. We are all grieving and trying our very best to care for one another during this indescribably difficult time.

"After much thought we have decided that out of respect for the McSpadden family, the Zombie Bus attraction will remain closed. We will reopen all other attractions at the maze starting this Saturday morning at 11 a.m.

"We want to thank everyone who has reached out to the McSpadden family and all of us with words of kindness, support and loving thoughts and prayers. We ask that all of you continue to keep the McSpadden family in your thoughts and prayers. The Inland NW is an incredible community that embraces its own in time of need. We all feel so blessed to be able to call this community our home."