CALIFORNIA, Md. (October 3, 2011)—Police in St. Mary's County report that an Amish buggy was struck by a pickup truck Saturday evening around 7:40 p.m. All three occupants of the buggy were ejected. A 12-year-old Amish girl later passed away at Civista Medical Center as a result of injuries received during the accident.
Police investigators determined that the Amish horse and buggy was attempting to cross the intersection of Route 5 from Oaks Road onto Mount Wolf Road. The light at the intersection was green as the buggy entered the intersection, but changed to red prior to the buggy completing the crossing. A 2004 Ford F150, operated by Francis Jerome Brawner, Jr., 31 of Waldorf, was traveling northbound on Route 5. and attempted to cross the intersection on a green light. He did not notice the buggy still in the intersection and his vehicle collided with the buggy.
As a result of the collision, the three people who were traveling in the buggy were ejected. Saloma Kathleen Stoltzfus, age 12, was transported to Civista Medical Center and subsequently succumbed to her injuries. The two other individuals in the buggy were also transported to the hospital and were treated and released.
Members of the Sheriff's Office Crash Reconstruction team responded to the scene and assumed the investigation. The investigation is continuing. There was no evidence to indicate that speed, alcohol or drugs were contributing factors in the crash. Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is asked to contact the primary crash investigator Sergeant Edward Evans at (301)475-4200 Ext. 9018.