The Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office FACT Team continues to investigate a fatal crash involving a vehicle and horse and buggy. Photo provided by the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office.

News Release

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — Irene Kuhns, 76, Nappanee, a passenger in a horse and buggy, died from injuries after a vehicle struck the back of the horse and buggy she was in at 8:26 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22.

The crash was on SR 19, south of CR 1050N in Scott Township in the northwest section of Kosciusko County.

Kosciusko County Officials are currently investigating the fatal motor vehicle that involved a motor vehicle and horse and buggy.

Emergency personnel arrived on scene and located a 2014 Ford Flex driven by Matthew Jourdan, 44, Warsaw, and a horse and buggy operated by Joni Kuhns, 49, Nappanee, involved in the crash. Preliminary crash investigation determined both the vehicle driven by Jourdan and the horse and buggy operated by Kuhns were southbound on SR 19. Jourdan’s vehicle struck the rear of the horse-n-buggy sending it buggy off the western edge of the roadway.

Jourdan was not injured in the crash.

The horse and buggy had five passengers all injured in the crash. The operator of the buggy, Joni Kuhns had a complaint of pain to his shoulder/arm. The front left passenger, Lizzie Kuhns, 50, Nappanee had a complaint of pain to the lower leg. The front middle passenger was a 7-year-old male who sustained a bruise to the head and was transported to an Elkhart General Hospital via ambulance. The rear left passenger, Freeman Kuhns, 81, Nappanee complained of back pain and was transported to Elkhart General Hospital via ambulance.

Irene Kuhns was a right rear passenger in the buggy. She sustained critical injuries and was initially transported to Elkhart General Hospital where she was later pronounced deceased from injuries sustained in the crash. The horse that was pulling the buggy, also sustained critical injuries and was deceased.

The Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Nappanee Fire and EMS and Reichert & Knepp Wrecker Service.

The crash remains under investigation by the KCSO FACT Team.

Damage to a 2014 Ford Flex driven by Matthew Jourdan, 44, Warsaw, that struck the back of a horse and buggy. Photo by the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office.