Fatal buggy collision leaves community with heartache

Glass broken cracks splinters in front of car ( Filtered image processed vintage effect. )

The victims have been identified in a fatal collision of an Amish buggy and an SUV that left two dead, and two injured in Fillmore County, Minn., the morning of Monday, Sept. 25.

The Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office stated just before 8:25 a.m., Monday, Sarah Peterson, 35, of Spring Valley, Minn., was driving a 2005 Toyota 4Runner south on County Road 1 when she collided with a southbound two-wheel horse-drawn buggy south of the intersection with County Road 102.

The Sheriff’s Office said there were four child passengers in the buggy at the time of the crash. Wilma Miller, 7, and Irma Miller, 11, were both fatally injured. Alan Miller, 9, and Rose Miller, 13, were taken to St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minn., for treatment of injuries. The Sheriff’s Office said all four children were siblings and residents of rural Stewartville.

An investigation into the collision by the Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office is continuing with help from the Mower County Sheriff’s Office and the Minnesota State Patrol. No arrests have been made. The Spring Valley Fire Department, Spring Valley Ambulance, Chatfield Ambulance and Mayo Clinic Ambulance Service also assisted at the site.

Rose was expected to return home after recovering from her injuries last week, however Alan was reportedly in the intensive care unit as of press time.

The community support for the Menno and Sarah Miller family has been significant and immediate. Menno and his family were well-known and he is deeply respected as a horse trainer and greenhouse operator, but more importantly, widely-known as friend to the larger Spring Valley community. 

A GoFundMe page has been created for the family to help with expenses, at https://tinyurl.com/4swyvw33, and has raised more than half the $100,000 goal, with over 853 individuals donating. Page creator Matt Kissick noted of Menno, “This is a wonderful horseman and family man.” 

First State Bank, located at 1030 N. Broadway Ave., Spring Valley, has set up a bank account for the Miller family, accepting donations to be accessible to them for unplanned expenses during this ordeal. With over 1,000 people reported to be paying their respects on the Miller farm, donations of food and supplies were delivered by multiple community businesses and organizations as the family held the wake and funeral the next day, for two of their children late last week. 

The Facebook page “Fillmore County Road One Community” has been spotlighting accidents and safety concerns on the road since 2018.

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