Young Amish Woman “Critically Injured”, Airlifted After Car Rear-Ends Buggy — But Horse Left Unharmed
Two Amish people were hurt – one critically – in a wreck which left the horse standing remarkably unharmed. This happened late Sunday night in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.
No ages are given in this report – just a “young Amish woman”, and an “Amish man”. It describes how the buggy the pair were riding in was struck from behind, ejecting both and sending them to the hospital.
More from the Williamsport Sun-Gazette:
OVAL — A young Amish woman was critically injured late Sunday night when the horse and buggy she was riding in was rear-ended by Subaru on Middle Road, just east of Route 880, in Limestone Township, according to Nippenose Valley Fire Chief Dean Miller.
The woman was in the carriage with an Amish man, both of whom were ejected from the buggy when the car plowed into the back of them as the two vehicles were heading west about 11:55 p.m., Miller said.
They landed in the berm of the road, with the young woman being knocked unconscious. She was first taken by ambulance to a hospital in the nearby town of Jersey Shore, then flown on to another hospital. The man was taken by ambulance to hospital as well. There is no further information available on the condition of either person.
The driver of the motor vehicle was “evaluated at the scene”, though there is no indication that he or she received medical treatment. The vehicle does appear to have sustained significant damage, as seen in the photo below.
As an aside, “Jersey Shore” is not an error; there is a town in Pennsylvania with this name. Originally called Waynesburg, the town got this nickname because its founders were originally from New Jersey. Settlers in a rival community on the opposite side of the river started calling the Waynesburg side “Jersey Shore” due to these origins, and the name stuck, later becoming official.
Somehow, the horse “escaped injury”, according to the report. The photo at top backs up that impression as well. Sometimes in these wrecks the human occupants escape unhurt, while the horse suffers a deadly injury or one that requires them to be put down. And sometimes you see this sort of situation where the horse is completely fine, though I suspect it’s less common.
But however the physics of the crash worked out, it left the horse essentially unscathed and the poor young lady badly hurt, along with her traveling companion, who we can infer from the story is somewhat less injured.
Lycoming County is home to two significant Amish settlements. One of them, near Williamsport, is home to over 400 Amish people. A second, larger community is associated with the town of Allenwood, and counts over 1,000 Amish residents. Both of these communities have been around for multiple decades.
No news is not necessarily good news, but it’s often the case that there are no follow-ups, at least not online, to these reports. Let’s hope these two make a full recovery.
I know these carriages have flashing lights and this was nighttime, so even more obvious, so what was this idiot driver doing that he/she plowed into the buggy? Obviously not paying attention or on phone. So many people these days only care about themselves. I hope the couple recover quickly and for once the horse was left standing.
Jersey Shore Accident
Erik,
Yes, the correct name for the town is Jersey Shore.
I am from Lycoming County, and know the area well.
The Subaru sustained quite a bit of damage, considering the horse appears
to be unharmed.
Sorry to hear that the woman, and the man, were injured; the woman significantly.
There are a number of Amish families in the area of Routes 15, and Route 54
intersection, in Lycoming County.
I used to attend an auction at a sawmill in the area, until the auction was discontinued.
The auction was usually held around Mother’s Day, in May.
Hoping that the woman, and the man, recover fully.