The accident occurred on a state highway, as two Amish siblings were traveling along until they were struck from behind by a 39-year-old man from Oklahoma. The impact was so severe that both occupants of the open-top buggy were thrown out, with one passenger, a 30-year-old man, requiring medical attention at a hospital. The buggy was completely destroyed, and although the semi truck sustained moderate damage, the driver emerged unharmed.
It is disheartening to note that such incidents are unfortunately not uncommon.
From The Blaze:
"I wouldn't say they're are uncommon, unfortunately," said Lafayette County Sheriff Reg Gill of buggy accidents. "Our dispatch center was called about a semi versus buggy crash that occurred out on State Highway 81," he continued.
"We do have a very large Amish community here in Lafayette County, and we do from time to time see these crashes," the sheriff added.
The sheriff explained that the siblings were believed to be returning from an Amish get-together where the elders and youth have separate parties.
The roads "see buggy traffic almost any time of day," Gill explained. "This particular evening there was a gathering up towards Platteville, Wisconsin, and these young people were traveling back home at that time. They have gatherings for the younger people and gathering for the elders and families, which usually ends sooner, and then these particular ones go a little later."
Wisconsin law states the buggies are required to have two red rear lights, two yellow or amber strobe lights, and "slow-moving vehicle" emblems on the vehicles' rear. The sheriff said the buggy did indeed have the LED lights but that the investigation was still ongoing.
