LOGAN COUNTY, Ohio — A weekend crash between an SUV and an Amish buggy in Logan County killed the buggy's operator and left his two passengers fighting for their lives. The crash happened just after 8 a.m. on Saturday, May 2, on State Route 235, south of the intersection of County Road 13 in Washington Township.
When first responders from the Logan County Sheriff's Office and Indian Lake EMS arrived on the scene, they found a Honda Pilot slightly off the west side of the road, with parts of a destroyed buggy still attached to the front of the vehicle, and other debris in the roadway. Both vehicles had been traveling south on State Route 235 when the SUV struck the buggy from behind. All three occupants of the buggy were ejected upon impact, and the horse pulling the buggy was deceased in the middle of the road.
The occupants of the buggy, operator Daniel Wagler Jr., 21, and passengers Daniel Wagler Sr., 48, and Enos Wagler, 10, all of DeGraff, suffered critical injuries. Wagler Sr. was taken to Mary Rutan Hospital in Bellefontaine before being later flown to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton. Wagler Jr. was transported to Lima Memorial Hospital. Enos was flown from the scene by MedFlight to Dayton Children's Hospital.
The Montgomery County Coroner's Office notified deputies later that day that Daniel Wagler Sr. had succumbed to his injuries at Miami Valley Hospital. Daniel Wagler Jr. and Enos Wagler remain in critical condition, according to the Logan County Sheriff's Office.
The driver of the SUV, 47-year-old Kelly Hoffman, of Lewistown, was not injured. She told deputies she was going about 55 miles per hour and was distracted reaching for her sunglasses at the time of the accident. Deputies said she was very remorseful because of what had occurred and was offered grief support at the scene.
The Multi-County Crash Investigation Team responded to assist Logan County deputies with the crash investigation. Hoffman was cited for failure to maintain an assured clear distance ahead, and the crash report will be forwarded to prosecutors to review and determine if additional charges, including vehicular homicide, will be filed.
