12 year old hurt in a horse and cart accident with two cars

ELKHART COUNTY, Ind. – One person in hospital after being ejected from a cart due to being rear-ended by a vehicle.

On Friday night around 615 p.m. Lori Bontrager, 12-year-old girl of Topeka, Indiana traveling with a horse and cart along with 2 other passengers, was traveling west on County Road 32.

Doris Peruski, 45-year-old woman of Lagrange, Indiana driving a 2004 Honda Civic with one passenger, was following directly behind the horse and cart.

Freeman Beechy, 17-year-old boy of Shipshewana, Indiana driving a 2000 Toyota Avalon, was following Peruski too closely and rear-ended Peruski, which caused Peruski to rear end the cart.

Bontrager was ejected from the cart. Bontrager was caught in the cart’s wheel and dragged several feet before coming to a stop. Bontrager suffered a laceration to the forehead and bruising on the right hip.

Bontrager was treated and transported by medics to Lagrange Parkview Hospital.

No other injuries were reported.

Beechy was cited for following too closely to Peruski.