The Coffey County Sheriff’s Office, assisted by the Kansas Highway Patrol, is investigating a severe-injury collision that occurred Saturday evening on Fauna Road, approximately three miles south of Jacob’s Creek.
The crash was reported just after 5:35 p.m. on Fauna Road, just north of 13th Road. According to investigators, a northbound Jeep SUV driven by an adult male was traveling behind a northbound horse-drawn buggy occupied by a mother, father and their four children.
Authorities said it appears the driver of the Jeep did not see the buggy ahead and struck it from behind at highway speed. The impact resulted in serious injuries to those involved and prompted a significant emergency response.
The mother was transported by helicopter to an unknown hospital for treatment of traumatic injuries. The father and all four children were transported to nearby hospitals by medical teams from Osage, Coffey and Lyon counties. The driver of the Jeep was also transported by ambulance for medical treatment.
The severity of the injuries to the occupants of the buggy and the Jeep driver was not known at the time of the report.
The horse pulling the buggy suffered injuries that were determined to be beyond care. At the direction of family members, officers on scene euthanized the animal.
Fire crews from Burlington, Gridley, New Strawn and Jacob’s Creek responded to the scene to assist emergency personnel and authorities.
The collision remains under investigation by the Coffey County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the Kansas Highway Patrol. No additional information regarding the cause of the crash or the conditions of those injured was immediately available.
