Authorities in Geauga County are investigating a tragic collision between a horse-drawn buggy and a commercial truck that occurred early Sunday morning, October 12, along U.S. Route 422 near State Route 528 in Parkman Township. The crash, confirmed by the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP), resulted in one fatality and left another person seriously injured.
According to the OSHP Chardon Post, the accident happened around 7:39 a.m. when a 2019 Volvo commercial truck traveling east on U.S. 422 struck the rear of a horse-drawn buggy ahead of it. The impact forcefully ejected both occupants from the buggy. Emergency crews rushed to the scene, where they found a man and woman who had been thrown onto the roadway. Despite immediate lifesaving efforts, 60-year-old Mary A. Byler of Burton, Ohio, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The buggy’s driver, a 62-year-old man also from Burton, sustained severe injuries and was airlifted to University Hospitals Medical Center in Cleveland for emergency care. His current condition has not been made public. Authorities reported that the truck driver, a 31-year-old man from Dearborn, Michigan, was wearing a seatbelt and escaped unharmed. Investigators noted that alcohol and drugs are not believed to be factors in the crash.
Responders from Parkman Township, Troy, and Middlefield Fire Departments, along with Community Care Ambulance, assisted at the scene. Deputies from the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office and the Ohio Department of Transportation also responded to help manage traffic and clear debris from the busy stretch of highway. A full reconstruction of the crash scene is underway as investigators look into whether speed, visibility, or road conditions contributed to the tragedy.
Local residents expressed sorrow over the fatal incident, saying that horse-drawn buggies are a common sight in the Parkman Township area, which is home to a large Amish population. Many emphasized the need for greater caution and awareness when driving near buggies, especially on rural roads shared by both modern vehicles and traditional forms of transport.
Authorities are urging motorists to slow down and maintain safe following distances when approaching slow-moving vehicles. OSHP encourages anyone who may have witnessed the collision or has dashcam footage from the area to contact the Chardon Post as the investigation continues. Officials have extended condolences to the family of Mary Byler, calling the accident a sobering reminder of the importance of patience and vigilance on Ohio’s rural roadways.