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Amish cyclists injured in accident

Two Amish men from Arthur, Ill., were seriously injured Monday when their bicycles were struck by a car near Charleston, Ill.

The good news is that both men are recovering from their serious injuries. Vernon H. Miller and John H. Miller of Arthur were reported in fair condition Tuesday at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, a hospital spokeswoman told the Charleston Times-Courier.

Two other Amish bicyclists from Arthur, Phillip L. Gingerich and Eldon I. Plank, suffered less serious injuries.

A car driven by Derek C. Phillips, 21, of Casey, struck the bicycles being ridden by the four men on Westfield Road a half-mile east of Illinois 130, the department reported. The accident occurred just east of the historic Five Mile House, which was built in 1836 and sits exactly five miles south of the Coles County Courthouse in Charleston..

The investigation continues, but neither the Times-Courier nor The Associated Press indicated whether the driver was charged or given a traffic citation.

Amber Kauffman, director of the Amish Interpretive Center in Arcola, confirmed all four bicycle riders are Amish. Kauffman told the Times-Courier that the four men were returning from a weekend visit by bicycle to Flat Rock, a village of about 400 people in Crawford County with a small population of Amish people.

According to the Amish Interpretive Center's Web site, about 4,500 Amish people live in the Arcola-Arthur area in east-central Illinois. Amish people first started settling in Illinois in 1865.

Labels: accidents, Illinois

Roger 1 comments 10:06 PM

Comments:

I live in Charleston and was near the accident the day it occurred. The men were wearing high vis clothing... the accident should have never happened.

Incidentally, the driver has not been charged!

# posted by  Anonymous : 1:13 PM

 

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