One person killed in Sunday collision involving Amish buggy

**UPDATE: For an update in the Amish buggy case, just click here . **

One person was killed and six others were taken to the hospital for treatment after a traffic accident Sunday night in Cumberland County. Cumberland County sheriff’s deputies and Virginia State Police troopers were called out to the 2700 block of Cumberland Road, just before 7 p.m., in response to an accident involving an Amish buggy.

Cumberland Volunteer Fire Department also responded to the scene quickly, issuing a warning at 6:57 p.m. Sunday. They asked people to avoid the area due to “a significant incident.”

The crash involved a pickup truck that collided with a horse-drawn Amish buggy. According to Corinne Geller, Public Relations Director for the Virginia State Police, there were seven people on board the buggy at the time of the crash.

“Six of the seven have been transported to UVA Medical Center for treatment of injuries ranging (from) serious to life threatening,” Geller said. “The seventh individual died at the scene.”

That seventh person has been confirmed to be one of the Amish family’s children. Geller meanwhile added that the driver of the pickup truck was not injured in the crash.

As to what caused the accident, that’s still being sorted out. Geller said the crash remains under investigation at this time. A GoFundMe has been set up for the family, as it’s anticipated that medical bills will be expensive for those still being treated. You can find that GoFundMe right here .

Looking to address Amish buggy safety

This marks the latest in a series of accidents involving Amish buggies. Before this, the last one took place on Thursday, April 18 in Buckingham County. The horse in that case was spooked by the revving engine of a passing car. The buggy flipped, injuring a young girl. The majority of accidents involving Amish buggies, however, tend to happen because another driver turns a curve at a high rate of speed and doesn’t see the buggy until it’s too late.

A change made in state law over the last year, Senate Bill 938, required white lights be placed in the front of the buggy and a red light in the back, to make it easier for drivers to see and respond in time.
“All vehicles, including animal-drawn vehicles, or other mobile equipment not otherwise in this article required to be equipped with specified lights shall carry at least one or more white lights to the front and a red light to the rear visible in clear weather from a distance of not less than 500 feet to the front and rear of such vehicles,” SB 938 states. “Such lights may be battery-operated.”

The bill, which sailed through both chambers of legislature without a single vote in opposition, also allows animal-drawn vehicles to use a reflector of a type, size and color approved by the Virginia State Police superintendent to be permanently affixed to the rear and front of such vehicles in lieu of or in addition to the lights.

Many Amish families in the area have gone beyond the initial requirement, adding amber lights and reflective tape to their buggy.

Other ways to warn

Also, when there’s a big wedding, auction or other event that will have a number of Amish residents on the roads, local fire departments and sheriff’s offices in Cumberland, Buckingham, Charlotte and Prince Edward counties put out notices on social media. The Virginia Department of Transportation has also put out caution signs on most major roads in this region, warning people that they might encounter Amish buggies.

Officials with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles say drivers need to not just slow down, but give space when passing buggies on the road. According to the Virginia Driver’s Manual, when it is safe to pass an Amish buggy, a motorist must allow at least three feet of space. And above all, they urge people to slow down.

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