Amish Buggy Hit By Truck; Small Child Airlifted With “Serious Injuries” (Ohio)

This one happened on Tuesday evening in Ashland County, Ohio. A small Amish child had to be airlifted to Akron Children’s Hospital.

Both drivers – of the Dodge Ram truck, and the buggy involved – are 19 years old. More:

MILTON TOWNSHIP — A juvenile passenger in a horse-drawn buggy suffered serious injuries Tuesday evening in a crash involving a pickup truck, according to the Ashland Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Troopers responded at 6:05 p.m. to a crash on Ohio 96.

A horse-drawn buggy was eastbound on Ohio 96, just east of Milton Township Road 1353, according to the patrol.

Troopers said a 1997 Dodge Ram truck was also traveling eastbound on Ohio 96 and the two collided.

The Dodge Ram came to a controlled rest on the south side of Ohio 96 and the buggy
was located in a private drive on the north side of Ohio 96, troopers said.

The buggy was operated by Ester Miller, 19, of Ashland. The Dodge truck was driven by Reed Saltzgaber, 19, of Mansfield.

The buggy had three juvenile occupants. One of the three was taken to University Hospital Ashland Samaritan Center and was later taken by medical helicopter to Akron Children’s Hospital with serious injuries.

Cleveland.com describes the juvenile flown to Akron Children’s as “a small child.” The condition of the other two passengers was not released, but we have to assume it is better than the young child.

It is believed by investigators that drugs and alcohol were not involved in this crash. Both drivers are cooperating as an investigation is ongoing.

Ashland County Pictures has a number of images of the accident scene which are viewable here. Cleveland.com picks up the story in a follow-up on general buggy safety in Ohio. Here’s an excerpt:

The crash highlights a growing safety issue in areas with large Amish populations, where modern traffic often collides with horse-drawn buggies. State troopers have long warned about high speeds on rural roadways.

The Ohio Department of Transportation says there are about 60 to 80 crashes a year involving buggies.

“(Because of) the high speed differential and minimal safety protection for the buggy occupants, incapacitating injury and fatal crashes are more common with buggy crashes than typical motor vehicle crashes,” a state report on the crashes says.

Ohio has been in the news for several years now following the passing of a controversial state law requiring flashing lights on buggies. A group of Ohio Amish are currently suing to overturn the law, citing religious objections.

Ashland County is home to several Amish settlements, the largest of which does not use lighting on its buggies.

The buggy in question here would belong to that group, as you can see the lanterns among the debris on the road in the above image.

Get the Amish in your inbox

Join 15,000 email subscribers. No spam. 100% free

 

 

 

Subscribe