Two injured in buggy versus car accident

January 2, 2013

NAPPANEE —  A Milford toddler and her father were taken to a South Bend hospital last night in serious condition after their buggy collided with a car near Nappanee last Dec. 28.
Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Deputies and emergency responders were dispatched Friday night at approximately 6:19 p.m. to a car vs. Amish buggy crash. Officers and Nappanee EMS and Fire Department located the vehicle and buggy carriage near the location of 5414 West, County Road 1350 North at a driveway entrance.
Kosciusko County FACT/crash investigators and KCSD deputies stated that from information gathered at the scene, Arlen R. Lehman, 51, Milford, was pulling out of the private driveway in his horse-drawn buggy. Lehman had attempted to stop his horse from entering onto the roadway when it suddenly trotted out into the path of a 2002 Volkswagen JGS driven by Jodi R. Kauffman, 23, Etna Green. Kauffman stated that she was westbound approaching the driveway and when she viewed a horse enter onto the roadway behind a row of pine trees.
Kauffman began to immediately brake but slid into the side of the passenger carriage, causing it to roll onto its side. Arlen Lehman, and his 4-year-old daughter Ranae Lehman, were airlifted to South Bend Memorial Hospital in serious condition. Kauffman was not injured in the crash, nor were Lehman’s wife and two children, ages 10 and 11 who were inside the buggy.
The Kosciusko County FACT team advised that the crash is still under investigation at this time. Alcohol is not believed to be a factor at this time. The Indiana State Police also assisted in the crash investigation.