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 Home > News > Story

Published - Monday, May 26, 2008

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Tomah man, son killed in Kansas City traffic crash

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GRANDVIEW, Mo. — A Tomah, man and his four-month-old son were killed when they van they were riding in crashed in a Kansas City, Mo., suburb Friday morning.

Grandview (Mo.) police report that Benjamin Yoder died this morning, while his son, Levi Yoder, died shortly after the accident that happened near the intersections of Hwy. 71 and 150 just after 10 a.m. Friday.

According to police reports, the Yoders were riding in a van carrying 13 people, all from the Tomah and Franklin areas, when it came in contact with a Chevrolet Trailblazer, causing the van to lose control, strike the center concrete barrier and overturn.

Most of the people in the van were not wearing seatbelts and some had to be extricated from the van.

Twelve passengers from the van were taken by ambulance to five Kansas City area hospitals and one was flown to Truman Medical Center, where he later died.

The ages range from four months to 74 years of age.

Grandview police Sgt. John 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.

Jonas Borntreger, an Amish leader in Franklin, said the group was in Missouri to attend two family weddings, he said.

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

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

Police are still trying to determine what caused the crash and are searching for people who may have witnessed the crash.
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Wondering wrote on May 26, 2008 8:15 AM:

" How do you fit 13 people into a van?? Much less have car seats too?? Not that it is the driver's fault, somethings can't be avoided. Why would any driver for the Amish allow them to cram in as many people as they can into one vehicle. Police and state patrol's need to pay more attention to these van's carrying so many people. I think they call it "click it or ticket it"!! The Amish really need to invest in their own bus or something that can haul them to their destinations safely, or hire a bus... "

Observer wrote on May 25, 2008 4:39 PM:

" Many Amish are carseating their children in vehicles, I see it as a carseat technician. But for those not belted, Amish are not the only ones not belting. My husband had seen a car with a driver with a small child on that drivers LAP!! How dangerous is that!! Law enforcement can only do so much. "

Concerned wrote on May 25, 2008 2:56 PM:

" EXACTLY. THANK YOU.

And who pays for it with insurance premiums? It's ridiculous to use religion as an excuse. Does God hitch their ride? NO. A high speed vehicle does.
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Dinkster wrote on May 25, 2008 7:53 AM:

" This was a tragic accident with loss of lives. My question is this. Why did the van driver not insist on seatbelt and carseat use? So often I see these drivers with Amish in their vehicles and they never have seatbelts and are holding children in their laps. I understand the right to religious beliefs however, these children have a right to safety in a vehicle.

How many times have we seen the buggy going by with small children sitting in the back with their legs dangling out.

How many of us have driven up to a buggy that could easily move on the side of the road and yet they are in the drive lane and won't move over for vehicles? We are hearing of more and more vehicle verses Amish buggy accidents. How many dark or foggy nights have you come upon a buggy on a country road with nothing for lights, and in the drive lane no less. These are accidents waiting to happen!

It's time law enforcement steps up to the plate and does something. Any law enforcement personal, EMT'S, Ambulance Attendants etc..will tell you, the worse scenario of any accident is when a child is involved.
The Amish behaviour does not just affect the Amish! It affects the other person involved in these accidents long term especially when children are involved. "


The comments above are from readers. In no way do they represent the views of the Tomah Journal.

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