At least three children were killed and six other people were critically injured after a driver in a pickup truck slammed into a horse-drawn buggy early Sunday in central Michigan, officials said.
The crash took place around 8:34 a.m. in Sheridan, located about 45 miles northeast of Grand Rapids, Fox 17 reported.
Michigan State Police told Fox 17 the pickup was traveling eastward when it struck the buggy and "demolished it."
Nine people were riding inside the carriage at the time of the crash, police said.
The driver of the pickup truck was not injured after his truck "demolished" the buggy. (Fox 17)
Michigan State Police said the three children killed were a 7-year-old girl, a 9-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy. The six others occupants of the buggy were transported to area hospitals where they were listed in critical condition.
State police told Fox 17 that the horse survived the fatal accident and "was fine" after the crash.
The driver of the pickup was not injured, and troopers say he was cooperative following the crash, according to Fox 17.
Officials said drugs and alcohol were not factors in the accident, which remains under investigation by the Michigan State Police.
=============
SHERIDAN, Mich. -- Three children died and six other people were seriously injured when a pickup truck hit a horse-drawn buggy near Sheridan on Sunday morning.
The accident occurred at 8:34 a.m. Sunday on East Condensery Road near Townhall Road in Evergreen Township near Sheridan, which is located in south-central Montcalm County.
The Michigan State Police said the pickup truck was eastbound on Condensery when it struck the rear of the eastbound buggy and demolished it. Nine people were riding inside the buggy at the time of the collision.
Troopers said the three children killed were a 7-year-old girl, a 9-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy.
The six other buggy occupants were all transported by ambulance with life-threatening injuries to local hospitals where they were listed in critical condition.
The truck driver, a Sheridan man, was not hurt and was helping the police with information.
The pickup also sustained extensive damage in the crash.
MSP Lt. Rob Davis told FOX 17 that the horse survived and "was fine" after the accident.
Troopers said drugs and alcohol were not factors in the crash, which remains under investigation by the Michigan State Police.
Most likely, the reckless truck driver was trying to pass the buggy and he end-up colliding with it. An opposite coming vehicle made him unable to do the passing of the buggy feasible.
The reckless truck driver was going behind the buggy during the double yellow line on the roadway. Then, when the double yellow line stopped, he trying to pass the buggy and he end-up colliding with it.
==================
EVERGREEN TOWNSHIP — Three people are confirmed dead after a Dodge 4×4 truck and horse-drawn buggy crash Sunday morning.
Most likely, the reckless truck driver was trying to pass the buggy and he end-up colliding with it.
Fatalities include a 12-year-old male, a 9-year-old female and a 7-year-old male from Sheridan, all occupants of the buggy.
The six other occupants of the buggy were transported to local hospitals in critical condition with life-threatening injuries, according to Michigan State Police.
Three children died as a result of injuries sustained in a truck and horse-drawn buggy accident Sunday morning. A Dodge 4×4 pickup truck, driven by a Sheridan resident, struck the buggy carrying nine Sheridan residents in Evergreen Township Sunday morning.—Daily News/Emilee Nielsen
At 8:34 a.m., Troopers were dispatched to the scene of the accident on E. Condensary Road, near Wood Road.
According to police, preliminary investigation reveals that the buggy and the pickup truck were both traveling eastbound on E. Condensary Road when the truck collided with the buggy. The truck struck the buggy, causing extensive damage to both vehicles.
The lone occupant of the truck, a Sheridan resident, was uninjured.
The truck’s occupant was found to have been wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision. Restraint usage of the buggy’s occupants is unknown.
Alcohol does not appear to have been a factor in the crash. Other possible contributing factors are still under investigation.
A Dodge 4×4 pickup truck, driven by a Sheridan resident, struck a buggy carrying nine Sheridan residents in Evergreen Township Sunday morning. Three of the buggy’s occupants, a 12-year-old male, a 9-year-old female, and a 7-year-old male, sustained fatal injuries. The remaining occupants were transported to local hospitals via ambulance and helicopter. — Daily News/Emilee Nielsen
LifeNet of Michigan responded to the scene to transport at least one of the accident victims to a hospital in Grand Rapids via helicopter, while other victims were transported by ambulance.
The crash remains under investigation. Names of those involved are not being released at this time.
The reckless truck driver was going behind the buggy during the double yellow line on the roadway. Then, when the double yellow line stopped, he trying to pass the buggy and he end-up colliding with it.
Also assisting were the Montcalm County Rescue Division, Sheridan Community Fire Department and Montcalm County EMS, the Lakeview Police Department, the Greenville Department of Public Safety, Safety First Wrecker and Montcalm County Central Dispatch.
As of 10:30 a.m., the road is closed to traffic.