Not all horse drawn vehicles carry slow moving vehicle warning signs.

Accidents can be deadly



By ERIC MULLENS

ALAMOSA — Last week a potentially deadly accident occurred on Colo. Hwy. 15 in the Valley involving a motor vehicle and a horse drawn vehicle carrying six people ages 60 to 9-years old who luckily did not suffer any major injuries.

On Wed., Aug. 13, Chester Baker, 30, of Monte Vista was southbound on Colo. Hwy. 15 about four-tenths of a mile from mile post 7, when he rear-ended what Colorado State Patrol Trooper Lance Sanchez described as a horse and carriage. The horse drawn vehicle was occupied by six people who were thrown from the carriage or wagon, at the moment of impact.

Trooper Sanchez’s report did not indicate any injuries to either Baker, or the individuals in the carriage. The investigation however underscores the need for Valley motorists, and visitors to remain aware of the growing Amish and Mennonite populations in the area who travel via horse drawn vehicles.

Baker was cited for careless driving in relation to the Aug. 13 traffic accident. The report indicated the horse bolted, pulling the conveyance after the accident but was retrieved soon afterward. No property damage details were available from the accident report.

Some of the Valley counties do post warning traffic signs depicting horse drawn vehicles but not all. According to state officials, posting this type of warning sign on rural roads is a county by county decision.

Due to the religious lifestyle that calls for avoiding what many consider ‘modern conveniences’ many of the carriages, wagons and buggies do not have lights, reflectors or slow moving vehicle signs and may be especially difficult to see in bad weather or during hours of early morning, dusk or twilight.

CSP Captain Lawrence Martin of the Alamosa CSP office said some of the horse drawn vehicle operators have begun to use more lights and reflectors after close calls with motor vehicles on the Valley’s main roads and back roads, but they are not required by law to install the safety equipment. This puts the responsibility on the motor vehicle operator to be especially careful while driving in the Valley, he said.

Those in the horse drawn vehicle at the time of the accident last Wednesday were, Edwin Hochstetter, 35, of La Jara, Duane Keim, 38, Roy Keim 60, Josiah Keim, 9, Jesse Keim, 13 and Jacob Keim, 12, all of Manton, Mich.