Tri-County News

Pickup vs. horse buggy crash kills two


Two people and their horse died after a Ford 150 struck a horse and buggy from behind on County Road 9 just north of Avon Saturday morning, Dec. 15. The crash is still under investigation.

At 11:17 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a crash involving a Ford 150 pickup truck and a horse-drawn buggy on County Road 9 north of Avon city limits.

Robert Alois Keppers, 72, and Mary Joan Keppers, 66, both of Avon, were in a single-horse buggy when it was struck from behind by the pickup driven by Marc Lucas Knapp, 23, of Avon. Both vehicles were traveling northbound, the buggy was on the road shoulder. The buggy went into the east ditch after being struck.

The pickup’s OnStar impact activation system notified the Communications Center. Several passers-by stopped to help. While deputies were en route, they were informed that both parties in the buggy were critically injured and that CPR was in progress. They died and their remains were taken to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office. The horse also was severely injured and died at the scene; family friends removed the horse. The pickup was taken into evidence.

County Road 9 was closed until 2:45 p.m. while aid was rendered and the investigation conducted.

The Minnesota State Patrol mapped the crash scene for a reconstruction. Avon Fire & Rescue and Gold Cross Ambulance responded to the scene. The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office UAV was deployed to film and photograph the scene to assist with reconstruction. The crash remains under investigation by Stearns County Sheriff’s Office.

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