EBENEZER, P.E.I. — An 11-year-old child has been airlifted to the IWK children's hospital in Halifax, after a motor vehicle and a horse and buggy collided on Route 224 in Ebenezer on Tuesday morning.
Five people were taken to hospital and the horse sustained minor injuries.
Sgt. Craig Eveleigh of Queens District RCMP said the child, who was a passenger in the buggy, suffered serious and life-threatening injuries.
"One of the youth that were in the buggy was airlifted to the IWK," said Eveleigh. "It is terrible. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families."
Eveleigh said there was an adult male and three youth, all under the age of 16, in the buggy.
It was a dry, cool day. Both buggy and the motor vehicle were heading east and sunlight may have played a factor in the collision, but Eveleigh said it is too early to tell.
Collision analysts were still at the scene Tuesday afternoon, said Eveleigh. The road was closed for several hours for cleanup, re-opening to traffic around 3:30 p.m. Eveleigh said it will be a few weeks before a report is submitted or a determination is made on what RCMP believe happened or what caused the collision.
Eveleigh said signs are posted, cautioning drivers to be aware of buggies on the road and to slow down if a motorist comes across one.
"We are just hoping to bring that education to the public, if they do see those signs, to slow down when they do see those vehicles and if they are going past them, make sure to put on their signal lights and make sure it is safe to pass," he said.
"These (buggies) are marked with a reflected placard and lights so the public has to be aware if they come up on these vehicles, they are going to exercise caution."
The horse suffered some cuts and scrapes, but was collected by community members after the collision and the animal appears to be fine, said Eveleigh.
Queens District RCMP officers, Island EMS and New Glasgow Fire Department all responded to the collision at about 9 a.m. Dec. 17.
- RELATED: Horse put down after P.E.I. man hits Amish buggy while driving drunk (Nov. 14, 2019)
