Tomah Journal - Printable Version

Story originally printed in the Tomah Journal or online at www.tomahjournal.com

Published - Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Amish family from Jackson County involved in fatal Missouri crash that killed Tomah father and son

A couple and their young son from the town of Franklin in Jackson County were injured in an accident Friday morning near Kansas City that killed a Tomah man and his son.

Jonas Borntreger, an Amish leader in Franklin, said this morning the couple is still in Missouri recovering from injuries. They were in Missouri to attend two family weddings, he said.

Benjamin Yoder, 45, died Monday morning, while 4-mouth-old son Levi died shortly after the crash, according to police in Grandview, Mo. According to police reports, the van had 13 people, ranging in age from 4 months to 74 years, all from Tomah and the town of Franklin.

The crash happened about 10:06 a.m. Friday when the van and an SUV collided near Hwys. 71 and 150, sending the van into a center concrete barrier, where it overturned. Several people in the van were not wearing seat belts and were thrown from the vehicle, while others had to be extricated from the wreckage, said Grandview police Sgt. John McKinstry.

Twelve van passengers were taken to five Kansas City area hospitals, while Levi Yoder was flown to Truman Medical Centers, where he later died.

McKinstry said it appeared all of the occupants in the van were Amish. Six had been treated and released as of Monday and the others had been upgraded to serious but stable condition, according to police.

The driver of the SUV was not injured. Police still are trying to determine what caused the crash.

Borntreger said the Franklin man had his jaw broken and has other facial injuries and his wife suffered leg injuries. Their 1-year-old child was ejected from the van but was apparently uninjured.

Borntreger said a funeral for the Yoders in Tomah may be Friday.