Levi R. Stoltzfus, 81, of Narvon, was driving the horse-drawn carriage eastbound at the intersection of Sheep Hill Road and Springville Road in East Earl Township when he “failed to obey the stop sign at Springville Road (PA Route 897),” police said.
A 44-year-old New Holland woman was driving a BMW X5 SUV north on Springville Road when “as the horse-drawn carriage entered the intersection, the front of the BMW collided with the right rear wheel of the carriage, causing the carriage to overturn,” the police press release said.
According to police, the collision occurred on Sunday, August 25, at 8:13 p.m.
Stoltzfus and his 78-year-old wife were both thrown from their stroller, police said.
According to the Lancaster County Coroner’s Office, Stoltzfus was pronounced dead at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital at 10:24 p.m. that evening. His wife was also hospitalized with serious injuries but is expected to make a full recovery, according to police.
Following an autopsy on Monday, August 26, the cause of death was determined to be “multiple traumatic injuries” and the manner of death was ruled an accident.
The driver of the BMW and her 13-year-old passenger were uninjured, but the horse was, police said. However, it is expected that it will fully recover from its minor injuries.
The Stoltzfus were married for 57 years, according to his obituary on the Furman Funeral Home website. In addition to his wife, Levi leaves behind seven children, 51 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren, as well as a brother and three sisters. as Daily Voice previously reported.
The East Earl Township Police Department was assisted on scene by Garden Spot Fire Rescue, New Holland Ambulance Association, Wellspan Ephrata Community Medics, Keystone Valley Fire Department Ambulance (Chester County), Lancaster County Prosecutor’s Office, including Lancaster County Crash Team (Reconstruction), and the Lancaster County Coroner’s Office.
The investigation is ongoing, police said.
Click here to read more about Levi Stoltzfus in our first report.
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