A young Amish girl, aged nine, from Pennsylvania, met a tragic end when she was pulled by a startled horse at a Salisbury Township, Lancaster County farm. The unfortunate event, which occurred on the morning of June 25, 2024, has left the local community in a state of shock.
According to Lancaster County Coroner Dr. Stephen Diamantoni, Anna King was in the midst of training the horse when the incident took place. “She had a lead wrapped around her wrist when the horse became spooked and took off, dragging her about a quarter of a mile,” said Diamantoni.
Anna was rushed to Lancaster General Hospital following the incident. “She later died from multiple traumatic injuries,” stated Diamantoni. The coroner’s office determined the cause of death to be multiple traumatic injuries and classified the incident as an accident.
This marks the second fatal farm-related accident involving a young member of the Amish community in Lancaster County in June. Earlier in the month, a three-year-old boy from Christiana lost his life in a barn accident on June 3 after coming into contact with ventilation machinery.
According to a report by Lancaster Newspapers/LancasterOnline, Lancaster County records the highest number of farm-related fatalities in Pennsylvania, with children frequently among the victims. The county has witnessed between one and seven farm-related deaths each year since 2000, with children often being the most affected.
The same article points out that, since 2016, 13 out of 25 farm-related deaths reported by Lancaster newspapers involved children aged five or younger. Teenagers and young children accounted for six more fatalities.
While the investigation into this recent tragedy is ongoing, the Lancaster County community is expected to rally around the bereaved family, offering support and remembering the young Amish girl whose life ended prematurely. Anna leaves behind her parents, Ivan and Mary Lantz King, five brothers and three grandparents.
