Truck crashes into Amish buggy in upstate New York, killing one

Be careful on the roads. Not everyone you meet may be traveling in the relative safety of a motor vehicle. Police say a truck crashed into an Amish buggy on Sunday afternoon, killing one and injuring two others. Syracuse.com says the crash happened on Route 41 in Richland, NY, when a pickup truck struck the back of the buggy traveling south. New York State soldier says the narrow section of the road and shadows cast on the sidewalk by a layer of trees may have made it difficult for the motorist to see the buggy before it was too late.
Police said a 22-year-old woman was killed and two other occupants were injured after being thrown from the buggy. Private Jack Keller says drugs, alcohol and speed were factors in the crash. Keller also said that another vehicle was traveling in the opposite direction so the driver of the van was unable to take the other lane.
The soldiers say no charges should be laid.
While the thought of accidents involving Amish strollers might sound odd, it happens more than you think, especially when traveling upstate. In February, a 23-year-old man from Antwerp was killed after a vehicle hit the buggy he was in. The deceased man belonged to one of the largest and most conservative subgroups of Old Order Amish in the country, according to reports. There are many Amish settlements scattered across New York City, Pennsylvania, and parts of the Midwest. According to figures compiled by the Amish Study, New York has more than 21,000 Amish living in the state as of 2020. New York ranks fourth in the country for Amish citizens.
Yet last year it was the driver of a horse-drawn carriage that caused the wreck, officials said. The Daily News says the crash happened near the New York-Pennsylvania border when the 18-year-old Amish driver lost control, causing occupants of the car to be thrown into the street. Chautauqua Today reports that the entire buggy ended up tipping over, causing injury to the horse. Police said the young man behind the horse was going too fast and failed to stop at a stop sign.