Father, Daughter Injured In Car-Buggy Crash Friday
Posted
David Slone-dslone@timesuniononline.com
NAPPANEE – A Milford toddler and her father were taken to a South Bend hospital Friday night in serious condition after their buggy collided with a car near Nappanee. Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department deputies and emergency responders were dispatched Friday at approximately 6:19 p.m. to a collision involving a car and an Amish buggy near Nappanee, according to a press release from the KCSD. Officers and Nappanee EMS and Fire Department located the vehicle and buggy carriage near the location of 5414 W. CR 1350N at a driveway entrance. According to the release, Kosciusko County Fatal Alcohol Crash Team 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 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 she was westbound approaching the driveway. 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 advised the crash is still under investigation at this time. Alcohol is not believed to be a factor. The Indiana State Police also assisted in the crash investigation.
