A horse-drawn buggy was hit by a car on State Route 364 in Potter on Sunday, making it the second major accident involving a horse and buggy in the last ten months.
Sheriff Ron Spike says most of these types of accidents are preventable and speed is the main factor.
He says a horse drawn buggy is only traveling around 5-7 miles per hour, while a motor vehicle going the speed limit can be 55 miles per hour. It takes 5.7 seconds to travel 400 feet at 55 mph and can result in a vehicle approaching a horse and buggy very quickly.
On Sunday, Ada Horning, age 67 was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. Her husband, Mahlon Horning, age 66 was airlifted to Strong Memorial Hospital and discharged Monday.
The driver, Robert Clark, was charged with following too closely and failure to exercise due care while approaching a horse. He said he was changing the radio station when he approached the buggy and struck it. Clark was given a sobriety test at the scene and was negative for any impairment.
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