3 hurt seriously as pickup hits Amish buggy near Hicksville

12/10/2002

HICKSVILLE, Ohio - A pickup hit an Amish buggy yesterday morning, seriously injuring three people just north of this Defiance County village.

Mary Bontrager, 32, Ethan Bontrager, 4 months, and Joe Stoll, 65, all of Hicksville, were in serious condition in Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne, Ind. A fourth passenger, Melvin Bontrager, 30, of Hicksville was treated at the scene.

According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the crash occurred on Hicksville-Edgerton Road, just south of Buckskin Road.

A truck driven by Melissa Mock, 31, of Hicksville was southbound about 9 a.m. when she crested a hill and failed to slow down, troopers said. The truck hit the back of the buggy, which was traveling south in front of the pickup.

The buggy spun around and struck a guardrail. Mr. Stoll was pinned under the wreckage and was extricated by emergency personnel, troopers from the Defiance post said.

The pickup truck came to a stop in the road and needed to be towed away. Ms. Mock was treated at the scene.

Troopers said the crash remains under investigation.