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A tragic accident in Gilford Township, Michigan, resulted in the deaths of six people after a pickup truck collided with a van carrying members of an Amish community on Tuesday (August 12). The crash occurred when the truck, traveling south on Vassar, ran a stop sign and hit the van, which was heading westbound on highway M-138, according to the Tuscola County Sheriff's Office.
The collision involved a total of 13 individuals, with 10 occupants in the van and three in the truck. The impact of the crash caused multiple passengers to be ejected from both vehicles. Among the deceased, five were in the van, and one was a passenger in the truck. The deceased pickup truck passenger was 44 years old, while the Amish victims were mostly in their 60s.
Undersheriff Bob Baxter noted the chaos at the scene and mentioned the ongoing efforts to identify the victims and determine their seating positions at the time of the crash. "Scenes like that are pretty chaotic at first," Baxter said, emphasizing the need for caution on the roads.
The Amish community is deeply affected by the tragedy. Rita Hanby, who provides rides for the Amish, described the incident as "a sad tragedy for this community," highlighting the generosity and caring nature of the Amish people.
The investigation is still ongoing, and authorities urge drivers to obey traffic laws to prevent such incidents. The sheriff's office has requested that people keep those affected by the tragedy in their thoughts.