DORCHESTER, WIS. – The driver of a horse-drawn buggy was killed Thursday in Wisconsin’s Clark County when his spooked horse turned in front of an oncoming logging truck.

Aaron N. Newswanger, 50, of rural Dorchester, Wis., was pronounced dead at the scene on Hwy. A just west of Cherry Avenue in the town of Mayville, about 3 miles west of Dorchester.

A passenger in the buggy, Esther Newswanger, 49, was taken by helicopter to a hospital with “incapacitating injuries,” according to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities said initial investigation of the crash, which occurred at 1:36 p.m. Thursday, indicates the buggy was eastbound on Hwy. A when a large logging truck approached from the west. As the buggy and truck met, about 30 yards away from each other, the horse became spooked and turned abruptly in front of the truck, into the lane of traffic.

The truck driver, Jacob Stai, 36, of New Auburn, Wis., tried to avoid the buggy by swerving, but struck the buggy before entering the north ditch. The horse also was killed.

The Newswangers were thrown from the buggy. Stai and his passenger, Devon Coon, 19, of New Auburn, who were both wearing seat belts, were not hurt.

The death was the first traffic fatality in Clark County this year.

ASSOCIATED PRESS