Justice for Elmer: Cowardly Driver Flees Fatal Buggy Crash

The Unspeakable Act: A Teenager Left to Die

The heart of Clarke County, Iowa, is broken and consumed by righteous anger following the tragic death of 16-year-old Elmer Borntrager. Elmer was operating a horse-drawn buggy on Clarke County Road R-15 near Murray at dusk on Wednesday evening when he was struck from behind by an unknown vehicle. The impact was devastating, sending the buggy into a ditch and ejecting Elmer, who died at the scene from his injuries. The shock of the accident is compounded by the most cruel and shocking detail: the driver of the striking vehicle fled the scene, leaving the young boy to perish alone on the side of the road. This act of cold-hearted abandonment has turned a terrible accident into a callous homicide, and the community will not rest until the driver who fled is held accountable for this unspeakable crime.

The Unfinished Life: A Community’s Loss

Elmer Borntrager was a 16-year-old boy with a full life of faith, work, and community ahead of him. His unexpected death is a catastrophic loss for his family and the close-knit community he belonged to. The image of the buggy—a symbol of a simpler, traditional way of life—being violently destroyed by a hit-and-run driver is a painful metaphor for the senseless tragedy that has occurred. Elmer’s life will be remembered for the young man he was—a dutiful son, a brother, and a friend. The profound sorrow shared by his neighbors speaks volumes about the vibrant spirit that was so cruelly and abruptly extinguished. We honor Elmer by ensuring that the memory of his young life overshadows the violent circumstances of his final moments.

A Desperate Plea: Hunt for the Silver Sedan

The investigation by the Iowa State Patrol and the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office is an urgent race against time. Authorities have issued a desperate plea to the public, offering a crucial description: the striking vehicle is likely a silver or gray Chevrolet or other GM sedan with extensive front, right-side damage and possibly damage to the windshield or roof. Every citizen is now asked to be a detective; someone knows something, or someone has seen a car matching this description suddenly disappear or acquire devastating damage. The community’s most essential role is to provide the piece of information that will bring the driver to justice, ensuring that Elmer Borntrager’s death is not just a tragedy, but a crime for which the perpetrator pays the ultimate price for their cowardly flight.