17-Year-Old Dies After Semi Hits Horse-Drawn Carriage

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says a 17-year-old Chouteau boy was killed when a semi hit the teen’s horse-drawn carriage.

The crash happened near Highway 412 and 428 Road, which is an area known to have a large Amish population.

A member of the Amish community told News On 6 it is against his religion to speak on camera. He did confirm many of the people living in the area travel up and down the roads in carriages.

The Town of Chouteau is home to Oklahoma’s largest Amish community. Joe Henson lives in the area and has seen many of those carriages traveling on the roads.

“Every morning and every afternoon,” said Henson. “They would be on the highway along with the tractors.”

Henson says many of the horse and buggies move along backroads around Chouteau.

“All these carriages around here have a slow vehicle sign on them,” he said.

Troopers say a teenager heading southbound on the rural road was trying to cross Highway 412 when his buggy was clipped by a semi. They say the driver was thrown from the cart and died.

“It had reflective lights on the back of the buggy,” said Trooper Preston Cox, Oklahoma Highway Patrol. “If you’re not paying attention, that’s going to be very difficult to see, especially if it’s crossing north-south and you’re heading east-west.”

OHP says the horse was not hurt in the crash and traveled five miles back home. Troopers say the carriage has a right to the road and this is an unfortunate reminder everyone traveling in the area needs to use caution.

Troopers say the driver of the semi was not hurt and won’t face criminal charges. The name of the victim has not been released because he is a minor.