CLARE COUNTY - On Nov. 15 around 7:25 p.m., Clare Central Dispatch Center received several calls regarding a traffic crash that occurred on South Clare Avenue and Dover Road in Grant Township that involved an Amish horse-and-buggy and a single motor vehicle.
Responding Clare County Sheriff’s Office deputies learned that 66-year-old Richard Rodabaugh of Farwell and a passenger were traveling south on Clare Avenue north of Dover Road in a 2005 Ford F-150 and had a collision with a horse-and-buggy that was heading north in the roadway.
Deputies said the buggy was unoccupied at the time of the crash.
During the investigation, deputies were able to locate and speak to the buggy owner, Andrew Hochstetler, 50, of Clare and learned that the horse had gotten loose from an address on Eberhart Avenue not far from the crash scene, officials said.
Rodabaugh was treated for injuries on scene by responding MMR units and subsequently taken to the Clare Airport and flown by AeroMed helicopter to Corewell Health (Butterworth) in Grand Rapids due to the extent of his injuries. The buggy was found to be unoccupied, and no other people were reported injured, however, the horse was found dead as result of the crash, deputies said.
As of Monday, Rodabaugh was reported to be in stable condition, deputies said.
The owner of the horse was cited under Michigan law by the Clare County Sheriff’s Office for animals running at large.