An 18-year-old, identified as Elma Mast, tragically lost her life after the horse-drawn buggy she was in was struck by a van in Jefferson County, IL. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office reported that the incident occurred just before 5 p.m. on today, at the intersection of Log Cabin Lane and Goshen Road. Major damage was inflicted on the buggy, and serious injuries were sustained by the occupants when struck from behind by a white Dodge van, as per First Alert 4.
Three people were inside the buggy during the crash, including Elma Mast, who was rushed to SSM Good Samaritan Hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after arriving. The two other occupants, Dena Mast, 20, and Mary Mast, 21, were flown to a St. Louis hospital for further treatment. According to KSDK, family members tended to the injured horse, which was also a casualty of the accident, and helped to recover the buggy at the scene.
The van's driver, Katlyn M. Catron, 32, and her juvenile passenger did not sustain serious injuries. In the wake of this tragedy, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office has communicated their condolences to the Mast family, extending, "May God’s Grace cover them in their time of need," in a statement obtained by FOX2Now. The Sheriff’s Office also stated that the investigation is ongoing.
