(8-26-23) This past Thursday Harley J. Schwartz (22) Portland sustained a fatal head injury after Deborah D. Houser (74) Peru hit the back of his horse and buggy.

Houser was driving west on Indiana 18 near County Road 50 East behind Schwartz when she struck the buggy.

The impact would throw Schwartz from the buggy. He was unconscious when first responders arrived and was flown to Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, where he would pass away.

Houser told Jay County Sheriff Deputies that she did not see Schwartz on the road.

She was taken to IU Health Jay for a drug and alcohol blood test with results pending from the Indiana Department of Toxicology.