Horse-drawn buggy accident

LIGONIER, Ind. - Indiana Conservation officers are investigating a horse-drawn buggy accident in Ligonier Tuesday night.  It happened just before seven o'clock.

Officers say 35-year-old Maynard Hochstetler was operating the buggy.  His wife, 37-year-old Luelon Hochstetler, was his passenger.

 They were travelling eastbound on Union Street near the intersection of Rochester Road when the horse spooked and pulled the buggy into the Elkhart River while Maynard was applying the brakes.

The two victims climbed on top of the buggy, while the horse and buggy continued to float downstream.  Police say the horse later drowned. They are going to try to recover buggy and the horse sometime Wednesday.

 The Ligonier Fire Department and the Sparta Township Fire Department rescued the Hochstetlers. They were treated at the scene by the Noble County EMS and then taken home.