A horrific event took place on a Salisbury Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania farm when a nine-year-old Amish girl lost her life after being dragged by a startled horse. The incident took place on the morning of Tuesday, June 25, 2024, leaving the community in a state of disbelief.
The identity of the young girl remains undisclosed. She was involved in the training of the horse when the tragedy struck. “She had a lead wrapped around her wrist when the horse became spooked and took off, dragging her about a quarter of a mile,” reported Dr. Stephen Diamantoni, the Lancaster County Coroner.
Dr. Diamantoni further stated, “She was taken to Lancaster General Hospital, where she later died from multiple traumatic injuries.” The coroner’s office has determined that the cause of death was multiple traumatic injuries, and categorized the event as an accident.
This marks the second fatal farm-related accident involving a young Amish individual in Lancaster County in the month of June. Earlier, on June 3, a three-year-old boy from Christiana lost his life in a barn accident when he came into contact with ventilation machinery.
Lancaster Newspapers/Lancaster Online reports that Lancaster County leads the state of Pennsylvania in farm-related fatalities, with children often being the unfortunate victims. Since 2000, the county has recorded between one and seven such deaths annually, with the majority being children.
The report also reveals that since 2016, children aged five or younger account for 13 of the 25 farm-related deaths reported by Lancaster newspapers, with six additional fatalities among teenagers and young children.
As the inquiry into this unfortunate event progresses, the community of Lancaster County is expected to rally around the mourning family, remembering the young Amish girl whose life ended far too soon.
