By Pat Maurer
Correspondent
An early evening crash between a runaway horse and buggy and a 2005 Ford F-150 pickup sent the truck driver to the hospital.
A press release from Clare County Sheriff Department’s Lt. Aaron Miller said Central Dispatch received several calls about the crash, which happened on South Clare Avenue (Old US-27) and Dover Road at 7:25 pm last Friday, November 15.
Responding deputies found that Richard Rodabaugh, 66 of Farwell, and a passenger were traveling south on Clare Avenue north of Dover Road, when they crashed into a horse and buggy headed north on the roadway. The buggy was unoccupied.
Investigating deputies located and spoke to the horse and buggy owner, Andrew Hochstetler, 50 of Clare, who told officers that the horse had gotten loose from an address on Eberhart Avenue not far from the crash scene.
Rodabaugh was treated at the scene by responding Mobile Medical Ambulance personnel and transported to the Clare Municipal Airport where he was flown to Corewell Health (Butterworth) in Grand Rapids due to the extent of his injuries.
There were no other injuries, but the horse was found dead at the scene of the crash.
An update on Rodabaugh’s condition on Monday, November 18 said he was in stable condition.
Hochstetler was cited by the Sheriff’s Office for animals running at large.
Deputies were assisted at the scene by Mobile Medical Ambulance Service, Aero Med, Clare Fire/Rescue, Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Clare County Road Commission.
