Binder receives Citizen Life Saving Award
By Robert Cloud
A 9-month-old boy was nearly killed when a pickup truck struck an Amish buggy in the town of Larrabee.
A passing motorist, Sarah Binder of rural New London, rescued the child.
Sheriff Brad Hardel presented the Citizen Life Saving Award to Binder Tuesday, Dec. 15, at the Waupaca County Board meeting.
At about 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, a Chevy pickup driven by 75-year-old Carol Jones, of Marion, was eastbound on County Trunk S when stopped at the intersection with U.S. 45 and prepared to cross the highway onto Magolski Road.
A buggy operated by Martha Miller, 30, Tigerton, was northbound on U.S. 45. She had three young passengers, ages ranging from 5 years to 9 months.
According to deputies at the scene, it was dark, the buggy was black and did not have reflective material on its side.
When Jones drove across the intersection, she hit the buggy’s draw bars and the horse. The buggy overturned with the horse still attached.
The 9-month-old child was thrown from the buggy and trapped beneath one of its wheels.
As Miller was trying to control the horse to prevent it from dragging the buggy with the child still under the wheel, Binder arrived at the scene.
Binder stopped, went to the family’s aid, and lifted the buggy wheel off the infant. She remained at the scene to help with the children while paramedics tended to their minor injuries.
She is married to Wisconsin State Trooper James Binder, who was on hand for Tuesday’s award presentation.
“Sarah Binder’s actions likely prevented serious injuries or possibly death that could have resulted if the horse would have dragged the buggy,” Hardel said.
Hardel noted that Binder “showed her true concern for other people.”