Drunk Driver Causes Horse Drawn Buggy Crash in Steuben County
News reports of a horse drawn carriage crash in Steuben County indicate that a 22-year-old drunk driver caused serious injury to several Montgomery residents who were riding in the buggy. Horse drawn vehicles are classified as slow moving vehicles and typically share the travel lane with motorized vehicles. When other vehicles do not drive safely and fail to provide enough room to safely pass, tragic accidents like this can occur.
In this incident, both vehicles were heading north, and deputies were informed that the drunk driver’s car hit the back of the buggy, causing all four occupants to be ejected. The victims ranged from a 13-year-old, who was flown from the scene in a medical helicopter, to a 23-year-old who was operating the horse carriage and was treated and released at the scene. Proper use of turn signals and maintaining a few feet of distance when overtaking a horse-drawn vehicle is crucial for preventing collisions. The accident remains under investigation, highlighting the importance of road safety and mutual respect between slow moving vehicles and motorized vehicles.
Safely Share The Road With a Horse-Drawn Buggy
Although drunk driving is the believed cause of this accident, motorists also commonly collide with horse-drawn buggies because they overestimate the time they have and don’t make a move to pass or slow down soon enough. This creates the scene for the most common buggy vs. motor vehicle accident, a rear-end collision.
Normal speeds for horse-drawn buggies are typically below 10 mph. Horse-drawn buggies may be even slower when pulling heavy loads or when crossing intersections. However, some buggy horses are faster and can reach speeds of 18 to 20 mph on an open roadway. Here are some suggested driving practices – courtesy of the Indiana Department of Transportation – to obey when sharing the road with a horse-drawn buggy.
- As you approach and pass a horse-drawn buggy, remember that horses are not machines. They may get tired and slow down, and sometimes they can be unpredictable. For example, horses may spook at a fast-moving vehicle or a loud noise, such as a revving engine.
- A horse-drawn buggy driver may have limited visibility. When pulling a large load, a driver may not be able to see a passenger vehicle to the rear. For these reasons, you need to be extra cautious when passing horse-drawn buggies. Be sure to slow down and give buggies and horse-drawn equipment plenty of room when passing. Also watch for horse-drawn buggies making left turns into fields and driveways.
- Sometimes, horses get nervous at intersections and back up a few feet after coming to a complete stop. Because of this, you need to leave some space between your vehicle and a buggy stopped at a traffic light or stop sign. It is best to stay back and leave about 10 to 12 feet of space between your vehicle and the buggy.
Indiana’s Amish Country
Indiana has the third-largest population of Amish in the U.S., behind Ohio and Pennsylvania, and the state’s largest and oldest settlements of Amish are located in Elkhart and LaGrange counties, according to Amish America. There are also smaller, newer settlements, such as the one in eastern Indiana near Economy and Hagerstown where you will often see horse-drawn buggies on the roads. Watch out for these buggies while you are traveling to keep everyone on the road safe.
If you or someone you know has been injured in a buggy accident or involved in a drunk driving accident, please call our Indiana-based vehicular accident attorneys for your risk-free, no-cost consultation: (888) 204-8440
