A 22-year-old Amish man and his 2-year-old son had to be taken to a Madison hospital Thursday evening after their buggy was hit by a drunk driver in Gratiot Township. The Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office reports Elmer Stoltzfus of Gratiot was traveling west on Highway 11 about 7:15 p.m. As he was preparing to turn his single-horse, open-style buggy into a driveway, a westbound truck, driven by 50-year-old Terry Gensler of Shullsburg, struck the buggy from behind. That caused Stoltzfus and his son to be ejected from their vehicle.
The two were initially taken to Memorial Hospital of Lafayette County. They were later transported to UW Hospital with significant injuries. The horse pulling the buggy was killed in the crash. Officials say the buggy was demolished and Gensler’s truck was severely damaged. Gensler was not injured. Authorities say Gensler was arrested for Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated Causing Injury. He was taken to the Lafayette County Jail where he was booked on his charge and released to a responsible party.
A section of Highway 11 was shut down for more than an hour Thursday night. An investigation into the crash is ongoing by the sheriff’s office and the Wisconsin State Patrol.
