4 hospitalized, horse killed in horse-drawn carriage accident on Route 12

In a serious accident between a Ford Focus and a horse-drawn carriage, four people had to be hospitalized and one horse died.

Oneida County Sheriff’s officials were called to the scene of a serious crash just after 7:30 p.m. Monday. The crash occurred on State Route 12 North between the Glass Factory Road on-ramp and the State Route 8 off-ramp, according to Sheriff Rob Maciol.

Oneida County Sheriff Rob Maciol later released more details about the horrific crash that left four people hospitalized, three in critical condition, and a horse dead. According to Sheriff Maciol, a 2007 Ford Focus driven by 20-year-old Chase J. Brewer of Mohawk was traveling north in the center lane of State Route 12. An initial investigation revealed that Brewer attempted to pass an uninvolved vehicle in the right lane but failed to notice a horse and carriage already traveling in that lane.

Sheriff Rob Maciol said the rear of the horse-drawn wagon driven by 19-year-old Rebecca Hershberger was struck. In addition to Hershberger, a 17-year-old and a 9-year-old passenger were also in the wagon. Maciol said all occupants of the wagon were taken to Wynn Hospital. Hershberger’s condition was last listed in critical but stable condition at Wynn. The 17- and 9-year-old passengers were eventually taken to Upstate Hospital in Syracuse and were listed in critical condition. Brewer was also taken to Wynn Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Unfortunately, Maciol announced that the horse was pronounced dead at the scene.

A section of State Route 12 was closed for hours while the crash was investigated. The investigation is ongoing and Maciol says the Criminal Investigation Division is continuing to work the case. Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact investigators at 315-765-2767. Officers were assisted at the scene by Kunkel Ambulance, as well as the Maynard Fire Department and the Deerfield Fire Department.