Distracted Driving appears to be the cause of a fatal crash on 3B Road near Bremen Tuesday afternoon.
Just after 4 the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call regarding a crash with a pick-up truck and a horse and buggy.
Officer Matt Brown investigated the crash and says both vehicles were traveling west on 3B. The pick-up truck driver, 19 year old Marion Otto of Bremen told Officer Matt Brown that he was looking in the center console of his truck and did not see the buggy. He told police he hit something and looked up and saw a glare from the sun and once he got stopped, he noticed he struck the buggy and immediately called 911.
The driver of the buggy, 80 year old LeRoy Hochstetler was killed at the scene and so was the horse.
Marion Otto fully cooperated with police and submitted to a chemical test. Drugs and alcohol were not a factor in the collision.
Marshall County Police were assisted by Bremen Police, Bremen Fire, Lutheran EMS and the Marshall County Coroner’s Office.
Listeners and readers are reminded that charging information supported by an affidavit of probable cause is merely an allegation that a crime has been committed and that there is only probable cause to believe a crime has been committed. They are presumed innocent throughout the proceedings and are entitled to be represented by counsel and entitled to a trial by jury at which the State is obligated to provide proof beyond a reasonable doubt before a judgment of guilt may be made.
