By Paul Garrod
Staff Writer
news4garrod@gmail.com
LAWRENCE – An eight-year-old girl was killed early Wednesday morning, March 26, in Lawrence Township when the Amish horse and buggy she was a passenger in, was rear-ended by a vehicle, according to a press release from the Michigan State Police, Paw Paw Post.
The crash occurred at approximately 8 a.m. on County Road 215, near 60th Avenue in Lawrence Township. A preliminary investigation revealed that the driver of a Ford SUV, a 31-year-old Mattawan woman, Sheila Kershner, was traveling northbound when she allegedly rear-ended a buggy carrying two occupants, a 12-year-old boy, who was transported to the hospital in critical condition and an 8-year-old girl, who succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased at the hospital. The boy has since been released from the hospital, according to social media reports.
Authorities reported the horse also died due to injuries received. Kershner was arrested and transported to the Van Buren County Jail, Paw Paw, on operating under the influence of an unknown substance. She, nor her two occupants were injured. Seatbelt use is unknown. Troopers were assisted by Van Buren County Sheriff’s deputies and emergency medical services.
The crash remains open pending further investigation, according to MSP.
On Friday, March 28, Kershner was in court. She faces charge of operating while intoxicated causing death, reckless driving causing death, homicide – manslaughter with a motor vehicle, operating while intoxicated causing serious injury, reckless driving causing serious impairment of bodily function, fourth-degree child abuse, and two counts of operating while intoxicated – occupant less than 16.
