A rural Hillsboro man and a horse died as the result of a motor vehicle versus horse-drawn buggy crash in rural Hillsboro on Christmas Day.
At about 6 p.m. Dec. 25, a motor vehicle collided with a horse-drawn buggy on State Highway 82 near Pine Avenue in the town of Union.
According to a press release from Vernon County Sheriff Roy Torgerson, Lydia E. M. Thompson, 22, of rural Sparta, and Jaydon Alan Shea, 20, of La Farge, were in a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze passenger car traveling east on State Highway 82. The vehicle hit a westbound buggy head-on, in the westbound lane, on a curve.
Henry F. Bontrager, 29, and Ruth J. Bontrager, 29, both of rural Hillsboro, were in the horse-drawn vehicle and were both ejected from the buggy, which came to rest in the roadway. The passenger car went off the north side of the roadway and traveled down an embankment where it came to rest.
Thompson, Shea and Ruth Bontrager were taken to Gundersen St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hillsboro by La Farge Area Ambulance. Henry Bontrager was pronounced dead at the scene by Vernon County Coroner Betty Nigh. Ruth Bontrager was later transferred to Gundersen Health System in La Crosse.
The horse also died because of the crash, the release stated.
The La Farge Fire Department, La Farge Area Ambulance, Wisconsin State Patrol Technical Reconstruction Unit, the town of Union and the Vernon County Coroner’s Office assisted at the scene. Torgerson said several concerned citizens stopped to render aid and protect the scene until emergency personnel arrived. A medical helicopter was requested but unable to fly due to weather conditions.
Highway 82 at the crash scene was closed until shortly before midnight when all units were clear. In addition to their initial response, the La Farge Fire Department remained on scene providing essential emergency lighting and traffic control.
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The Vernon County Sheriff’s Office said no additional details will be provided about the crash until the investigation by the Vernon County Coroner’s Office and the Wisconsin State Patrol is complete.
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