Nappanee Woman Killed In Crash Sunday Night; Others Injured
September 23, 2024 at 11:58 a.m.

A Nappanee woman was killed when a car hit the back of a horse-and-buggy she was riding in Sunday night.
Four others in the horse-and-buggy were injured, and the horse also died.
The fatal accident occurred on Ind. 19, approximately 1,500 feet south of CR 1050N, in Scott Township, in the northwest section of Kosciusko County, according to a news release from the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office.
KCSO deputies and emergency personnel responded at 8:26 p.m. Sunday and found a 2014 Ford Flex, driven by Matthew Jourdan, 44, Warsaw, and a horse-and-buggy, operated by Joni Kuhns, 49, Nappanee, involved in the crash.
Preliminary crash investigation determined that both the Ford Flex and the horse-and-buggy were southbound on Ind. 19. Jourdan’s vehicle hit the rear of the horse-and-buggy, sending the buggy off the western edge of the road.
Jourdan was not injured in the crash.
The horse-and-buggy had five passengers, all injured in the crash.
The operator of the horse-and-buggy, Joni Kuhns, had a complaint of pain to his shoulder/arm.
The front left passenger, Lizzie Kuhns, 50, Nappanee, had a complaint of pain to the lower leg.
The front middle passenger was a 7-year-old boy who suffered a bruise to the head and was taken to an Elkhart General Hospital via ambulance.
The rear left passenger, Freeman Kuhns, 81, Nappanee, complained of back pain and was transported to Elkhart General Hospital via ambulance.
The rear right passenger, Irene Kuhns, 76, Nappanee, suffered critical injuries and was taken to Elkhart General Hospital where she was later pronounced dead from injuries suffered in the crash.
The horse that was pulling the buggy also suffered critical injuries and died.
The KCSO was assisted at the scene by the Nappanee Fire and EMS and Reichert & Knepp Wrecker Service.
The crash remains under investigation by the KCSO FACT.
A Nappanee woman was killed when a car hit the back of a horse-and-buggy she was riding in Sunday night.
Four others in the horse-and-buggy were injured, and the horse also died.
The fatal accident occurred on Ind. 19, approximately 1,500 feet south of CR 1050N, in Scott Township, in the northwest section of Kosciusko County, according to a news release from the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office.
KCSO deputies and emergency personnel responded at 8:26 p.m. Sunday and found a 2014 Ford Flex, driven by Matthew Jourdan, 44, Warsaw, and a horse-and-buggy, operated by Joni Kuhns, 49, Nappanee, involved in the crash.
Preliminary crash investigation determined that both the Ford Flex and the horse-and-buggy were southbound on Ind. 19. Jourdan’s vehicle hit the rear of the horse-and-buggy, sending the buggy off the western edge of the road.
Jourdan was not injured in the crash.
The horse-and-buggy had five passengers, all injured in the crash.
The operator of the horse-and-buggy, Joni Kuhns, had a complaint of pain to his shoulder/arm.
The front left passenger, Lizzie Kuhns, 50, Nappanee, had a complaint of pain to the lower leg.
The front middle passenger was a 7-year-old boy who suffered a bruise to the head and was taken to an Elkhart General Hospital via ambulance.
The rear left passenger, Freeman Kuhns, 81, Nappanee, complained of back pain and was transported to Elkhart General Hospital via ambulance.
The rear right passenger, Irene Kuhns, 76, Nappanee, suffered critical injuries and was taken to Elkhart General Hospital where she was later pronounced dead from injuries suffered in the crash.
The horse that was pulling the buggy also suffered critical injuries and died.
The KCSO was assisted at the scene by the Nappanee Fire and EMS and Reichert & Knepp Wrecker Service.
The crash remains under investigation by the KCSO FACT.