Another Amish Road Death In Michigan. Amish Woman Killed When SUV Rear-Ends Buggy
The state of Michigan continues to increase their Amish buggy crash death toll. An Amish woman lost her life after the buggy she was in was rear-ended Friday by an SUV in Gladwin County, MI. More:
GLADWIN COUNTY, Mich.— An Amish woman is dead after a buggy she was in was hit from behind on Friday afternoon.
On August 1 at around 2:30 p.m., deputies from the Gladwin County Sheriff’s Office were called to investigate a buggy crash on Round Lake Road.
The buggy was occupied by three Amish women, ages 58, 25, and 17, and was traveling northbound on Round Lake Road when it was hit from behind by a 2016 Jeep Cherokee.
The driver of the Cherokee was a 38-year-old woman from Butnam Township. Although there are exceptions, it is usually local drivers who are involved in Amish buggy crashes.
The other two Amish women were taken to the hospital but it sounds like they will be physically okay. They reportedly have “non-life-threatening injuries”.
As we’ve covered a lot lately, we hear a lot about Amish buggy crashes in Michigan. Gladwin County is one of three counties involved in a safety initiative that will hopefully start to address the problem.
This latest crash is at least the third serious buggy accident in this county alone this year. Two prior crashes left multiple Amish people seriously injured.
Besides buggy accidents, the county is one we’ve featured frequently here. It’s home to two separate Amish communities and over 1,700 Amish people.
Michigan, for that matter, has long had a significant Amish population, with dozens of settlements across the state. You’d think that history would lead to more awareness of buggies on the road. Maybe not for everyone.
That said, there is no indication given in the reporting that the motor vehicle driver is at fault (though she could be, we simply do not know at this time).
There are other factors beyond the driver’s control which can contribute to buggy accidents. I assume the police investigation will help to fill that part of the story out, one way or another.
Condolences to this woman’s family and church community.
Amish Woman Dies In Buggy Accident
Oh, snap! Not again?! WHY does this keep happening?? If I lived in the area I’d be afraid to leave my home. Erik, do you know which of the 3 women was killed?? Love, prayers & friendship from MN to the whole community.
Buggy accident
My son and I travel Round Lake Rd almost every day and are very careful because we know Amish people are in the area. I always slow down and give the horse a wide berth when passing them. I wave to them and respect them a lot. I have Amish and Pennsylvania Dutch people in my background.
Yet another careless driver. Everyone knows Amish are in the area, they don’t care to slow down just in case the horse does something unexpected, but i would think, to have three ladies in a buggy, the man in the family would not allow them to drive a horse that was not 100% acclimated, safe and trustworthy.
I was taught that rear-end collisions are always the fault of the rear-ending car
But maybe the laws have changed? Going fast and rear-ending the buggy seems like there wasn’t good use of the brakes and it looked like a clear day, non-rainy day. Hope it will be cleared up in the police investigation.