Two-Year-Old Amish Girl Dies in Lancaster County Tractor Accident
This one is just heartbreaking. A two-year-old Amish girl lost her life Saturday in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania after falling from a tractor. More from Lancaster Online:
A 2-year-old Amish girl died after sustaining a head injury in a farming accident on Saturday in Upper Leacock Township, according to the Lancaster County Coroner’s Office.
Sarann S. King, of Gordonville, died Saturday on the 300 block of Newport Road after falling off a tractor and being run over by one of the vehicle’s tires. The coroner said King died of a traumatic head injury and ruled it an accident.
East Lampeter Township police responded around 8:42 a.m. and are still investigating.
King was pronounced dead on scene in a nearby home, according to the coroner’s office.
An earlier report noted that a man, who was not identified in the report, was driving the tractor north on Newport Road when the girl fell.
Emergency medical services were sent to render aid, but apparently there was little that could be done, and the girl tragically passed away.
The Amish Use Tractors In Certain Situations
Different Amish groups use tractors in different ways. Most do not use them for field work, opting for horses or mules.
They might be used to haul loads in some communities. Their engines can be used to power other farm implements while stationary. Often, churches require that they have steel wheels to discourage using them for transport in the manner of an automobile.
But in certain settlements, they are used liberally, even as a form of regular transport. Lancaster County is not traditionally one of those. So this may have been someone moving a tractor or using it to haul something a short distance.
Farm Culture Has Benefits And Risks
Some might wonder why a two-year-old girl would be riding on a tractor. There is a community cultural aspect here – though occupations today vary, the Amish are traditionally an agrarian culture. Those roots run deep, and in farm households, the farm life is instilled and passed along from a young age.
Amish parents frequently involve their children in farm activities and jobs, even just to “have them along”. It sounds like that might have been the case here, and may explain why the two-year-old girl was on the tractor to begin with.
As we’ve seen here too many times, Amish children are sadly lost to farm accidents. The Lancaster Online report gives some context for the Lancaster County area:
The county has registered between one to seven farm deaths a year since 2000, and children are the most common victims.
Children 5 or younger account for 16 of the 29 farm deaths covered by LNP | LancasterOnline since 2016; teenagers and young children account for seven deaths.
In this community, an Amish girl of about the same age died in a farm accident nearly one year ago. And last summer, a six-year-old boy died in an accident involving a skid loader.
The culture of Amish farm life simply means their children will be exposed to greater risk of such accidents. Many Amish parents feel a farm upbringing provides a lot of value for their children, but like everything in life there is a tradeoff.
I can’t imagine what the King family is going through and can only hope they are comforted by their faith and community at this time.
Gods will.
If I lived in a county that had this many children die from farm “accidents” I’d perhaps be more careful about combining children with heavy machinery.
That is just me though. I also wear a seatbelt and make my grandkids do the same. I’m sure absolutely nothing will change or be learned from this. Disgusting.
Amish Girl/Tractor Death
Rod, my grandmother and first cousin were both wearing their seatbelts but died in an awful car wreck 40 years ago. In the grand scheme of things, is 1-7 deaths per year over 26 years really that many when there are thousands of people living in that one PA county?? A few months ago, a pregnant Amish mother-to-be (and her unborn baby) were killed when she was kicked by a horse or cow. As Erik mentioned, farm life is dangerous life unfortunately.
The culture
This is about a group of people that often play games with safety. If you think involving an innocent young child in one of the most dangerous occupations on the planet is a good idea, you are probably Amish. If you you value your need to accomplish a farm task more than your child’s life, I’d say you have errored in judgement. This gives new meaning to the term accident. They know full well this happens. They attend the funerals, they hear the stories, they read the papers. At this point, it’s just careless and criminal. How many children must die before these “parents” take their children’s safety seriously? Does the law need to step in? Personally, I find their lack of safety bizarre. The family people are really hard on family members.
A child is dead, and this was avoidable. The disconnect here is mind boggling. How much longer before the next Amish child dies from his or her parents poor choices? Not only heartbreaking, but utterly confusing, and seriously sobering to think that there is some acceptable number of 2 year olds that must be sacrificed so one culture can continue being reckless with the lives of their children.
Amish Girl/Tractor Death
Hey, Erik. How truly gut wrenching. Must admit I was outraged at first. Thought, “As an Amish mom, that little one would’ve been at my side at all times, no exceptions.” Then I realized that that’s not always possible. Maybe mom took the horse and buggy and had to go to town and the child wanted to go on the tractor instead?? I also realized that here in my native MN we take our young ones camping, boating, skiing, out on snowmobiles, etc. There’s never really any rhyme or reason as to why some of us die accidentally (while so young) while others do not. Sure hope this family finds comfort in their faith, family and friends at this painful time. I’m sure the tractor operator feels just terrible.
Picture displayed in article
Just to be clear, this Amish family portrayed in this picture is not that of the scene of the accident, or of the family members of the poor lost child’s life.
This family of children in the photo are not dressed for yesterday’s brutal winter temperatures.
My heart bleeds for the child and her family.
Thanks for pointing that out, yes it is simply an illustrative photo showing Amish farm culture and including a tractor.
There are usually not going to be such photos available showing the actual victim, prior to an accident, in a peaceful scene like this.
If there are photos available in reports about accidents, they tend to be photos of the accident scenes, and it’s usually clear by the context or caption that it is an actual accident scene. Though, I don’t often see them for this sort of accident, with buggy accident photos being more common.
I use generic illustrative photos like this one sometimes, assuming that the context will be clear. But I see sometimes in social media comments that it’s not always the case, so I appreciate your note.
Prayers for the family
Prayers for the driver of the tractor. He must feel AWFUL! And prayers for the entire immediate family of the little girl, as well as for the neighbors and other relatives and friends.
May God watch over them during this time and help them to heal in His grace and peace through Jesus Christ.
Farming Hazards
It should not be the excuse of their farming culture that puts young lives in danger , just as horse and buggies are dangerous as well. You have laws to keep people save whether at job sites or driving on roads, but everyone seem to overlook their irresponsibility of their children’s safety, I see it everyday little children on farming vehicles on the streets with 3 year olds sitting on a wooden plank with nothing underneath, its complete insanity,.
Accidents
That’s why they call them accidents.the school shooting in Canada , a very small community never thought they would be subject to gun violence, no matter how careful you are you cannot protect people 24-7 I know that person driving will look back,feeling terrible over taking that child’s life
Tragic
I was so heartbroken when I read this story. I actually cringed at the tragic scene that must have ensued. Such a tragedy for the King family and the community as a whole.