The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

May 11, 2008

Amish family hospitalized

Police: Drunk driver hit buggy

By Tom Davidson

PERRY TOWNSHIP — Five members of an Amish family are hospitalized after police say a drunk driver crashed her pickup truck into their horse-driven buggy Saturday evening.

The crash shortly before 7 p.m. Saturday on state Route 358 in Perry Township was the second serious wreck involving an Amish buggy on the road this month.

Jennifer J. Crenshaw, 38, of 7771 Timberlane, Geneva, Ohio, was traveling east on Route 358 between Small and Airport roads when her pickup crossed the center line and sheared off a utility pole. The truck rolled once, then hit the Amish buggy, police said.

The force of the impact ejected all members of the Kempf family from the buggy, police said. They are: Benjamin Kempf, 29; David Kempf, 6; Erma Kempf, 5; Melvin Kempf, 4; and Miriam Kempf, 1, all of 299 Carey Road, Clarks Mills.

Benjamin Kempf was flown to St. Elizabeth Medical Center, Youngtown, where he was in critical condition, according to a spokeswoman.

The children were taken to UPMC Horizon, Greenville, then transferred to Children’s Hospital, Pittsburgh.

Erma is in critical but stable condition, Miriam’s listed as fair and Dave and Melvin are in good condition, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Police didn’t say whether the horse survived the crash.

Ms. Crenshaw was treated and released from UPMC Horizon, Greenville, police said.

She was charged with drunken driving and five counts of aggravated assault while driving drunk, along with numerous traffic offenses, police said.

She was arraigned by District Judge James E. McMahon, police said.

The crash was a few miles from a May 5 hit-and-run that critically injured an East Fallowfield Township Amishman.

Erven Byler, 22, of 5824 Pine Road, remained in critical condition at St. Elizabeth Health Center on Sunday, a hospital spokeswoman said.

He was thrown about 50 feet and his horse was killed in the wreck on Route 358 east of Hughey Road.

Timothy Fredrick Alter, 29, of 90 Shenango Park Road, Lot 7, Pymatuning Township, has been charged with driving the van that hit Byler’s buggy.

Alter faces charges of hit-and-run resulting in death or injury, driving on a suspended license related to drunken driving, failure to stop and render aid or give information, failure to notify police of an accident and accident involving damage to attended vehicles or property.

According to Mercer County court records, Alter has pleaded guilty to driving under suspension six times since 2000; the latest was in February.

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