Distracted driver crashes into horse and buggy, 27-year-old suffers life-threatening injuries

ELKHART COUNTY, Ind. -- The Elkhart County Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to C.R. 28 east of C.R. 133 for a crash involving a car and horse and buggy around 9:14 a.m. on Saturday.

The report states a 2012 Chevrolet Cruise, driven by 22-year-old Arlin Schlabach of Middlebury, was travelling east on C.R. 28 just east of C.R. 133.

Deputies say Schlabach was using his phone while driving and didn't see the horse and buggy, operated by 27-year-old Matt Petersheim of Goshen.

Schlabach then rear-ended the buggy which resulted in Petersheim being ejected.

Petersheim sustained serious life-threatening injuries to his head and face which resulted in temporary unconsciousness.

Petersheim was taken to the South Bend Memorial Hospital for medical treatment.

Schlabach was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash and was uninjured. He was also cited for using a telecommunication device while operating a motor vehicle.

There's no other information available at this time.