Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NORTH WEBSTER - Seven injuries were reported when a hayride was involved in an accident Saturday night near North Webster.
Only one of the injured was riding on a hay wagon being pulled by a tractor. The other injuries were to people in two cars involved in the 6:28 p.m. accident on Ind. 13, 1,000 feet north of CR 1000N.
According to a Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department report, the southbound hayride was struck from behind by a car driven by Lorence Griffith, 84, East Ross Drive, Syracuse. Police said the hay wagon had two slow-moving vehicle signs on it and the tractor had one such sign. Also, three of the four flashers on the tractor were operable, but there were no lights on the hay wagon.
The driver of the tractor, Bruce Butler, 43, of East CR 1100N, Syracuse, said he was traveling partially on the roadway when the accident occurred. He heard the collision and looked back to see one of the adults jump from the hay wagon. Butler said he then pulled off the road. There were about 20 adults and children on the hayride.
After Griffith's car collided with the hay wagon, the car traveled into the northbound lane of Ind. 13 and hit a car driven by Diana M. Mickles, 27, CR 29, Syracuse. Griffith's car then spun and struck the hay wagon a second time.
Injured from the hayride was Ryan Koble, 12, of North Dogleg Drive East, Syracuse, who complained of knee pain.
Griffith suffered bleeding to his elbow and a passenger in his car, Rose Mary Griffith, 83, of East Ross Drive, Syracuse, complained of pain.
Mickles suffered a facial abrasion, and three children in her car, Tracy Stiver, 7; Dalton Stiver, 6; and Hailey Stiver, 3, all of CR 29, Syracuse, suffered unspecified injuries.
All of the injured who requested medical attention were taken to Goshen General Hospital for treatment.
Damage from the accident is estimated at $10,000 to $25,000.
