LEONARDTOWN, Md. (July 9, 2016)—A car collided with an Amish buggy not long after midnight. The buggy was overturned and all seven occupants—an infant, 4 children, and 2 adults—were ejected. All seven were flown to regional medical centers. The two occupants of the 2000 Nissan Altima were treated on the scene by EMS and released.
The accident occurred around 12:26 a.m. on MD Rt. 6 at Culver Lane in Mechanicsville, St. Mary's Co.
The occupants of the buggy, all of Mechanicsville, were identified as:
• Aaron Hertzler, 33;
• Katie Hertzler, 30;
• Juvenile Female, 15 months old;
• Juvenile Female, 3;
• Juvenile Female, 5;
• Juvenile Female, 7; and
• Juvenile Male, 8.
The occupants of the 2000 Nissan Altima were identifed as:
• Driver: James Windell Price, Jr., 25 of Mechanicsville, Md.; and
• Passenger: Anthony Eugene Swiderski, 21 of Aquasco, Md.
A total of seven Amish patients were flown to area hospitals by Maryland State Police helicopters Trooper 2 and Trooper 7 and the United States Park Police helicopter Eagle 1. The two adult patients were flown to Medstar Washington Hospital Center and the five children were flown to Children's National Medical Center, both located in Washington, D.C.
The preliminary investigation revealed the Amish buggy was traveling on the shoulder of westbound MD Rt. 6 in the area of Culver Lane. The Nissan was also traveling westbound MD Rt. 6 in lane #1. The Amish Buggy made a left turn, attempting to turn onto Culver Lane from the westbound shoulder of MD Rt. 6. For reasons still under investigation, the Nissan collided with the Amish Buggy in the westbound lane of MD Rt. 6, causing the Amish Buggy to overturn. All seven occupants were ejected from the buggy. The horse was injured and released to the custody of family from the scene.
The Maryland State Police Crash Team responded to the scene and is assisting with the on going investigation and reconstruction.
The Maryland State Highway Administration responded to the scene to assist with the road closure and provided lights for the on scene investigation. The St Mary's County State's Attorneys Office was notified and responded to the scene as well.
The collision is being investigated by Trooper Coppedge of the Maryland State Police Leonardtown Barrack.