On August 31, 2018, at approximately 3:45 p.m., the Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Dispatch Center (911) received a call of an Amish buggy being struck by a car. This was reported as a hit and run, with the suspect vehicle fleeing the area. The accident took place on CR 21, in about the 18000 block, in Amherst Township (sections 20/21 and north of Henrytown). The Harmony Ambulance, Harmony Fire, and Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office all responded to the accident. There were three occupants in the buggy; two adult Amish males, ages 19 and 21, and a 17-year-old juvenile Amish male. All three buggy occupants sustained injuries and the oldest was transported to the hospital with serious, life-threatening injuries. The suspect vehicle was located in the 33000 block of CR 16, to the west of the accident scene, hidden in a hay field, alongside a cornfield. The suspect driver had abandoned the vehicle and fled. The Houston County Sheriff’s Office K-9 was requested and responded to the scene. After a short track/search, the suspect was located by the K-9 and placed under arrest. The suspect was identified as 24-year-old Connor Keene of Canton, Minn. Keene is being held at the Fillmore County Jail until he is arraigned in Fillmore County District Court for Criminal Vehicular Operation of a Motor Vehicle.
This accident was later identified as a fatality accident, due to the 21-year-old Amish male, William E Stutzman, from rural Harmony Minn., passing away from injuries sustained in the crash. He passed away at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, Wis.
George says
Alcohol is one helluva drug.