ELKHART COUNTY, Ind. -- A 27-year-old man is in the hospital after suffering severe head trauma Thursday afternoon when a truck struck his horse and buggy.

The Elkhart County Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to S.R. 13 north of C.R. 34 around 2:09 p.m. for a crash involving a horse and buggy and a 2018 Dodge Ram 3500.

Deputies arrived to find a man suffering from severe head trauma. He was subsequently airlifted to Memorial Hospital in South Bend for treatment.

The report states 45-year-old Michael Barkey was driving the Ram south on S.R. 13 when deputies say he failed to see the horse and buggy in front of him, also traveling south.

Authorities say Barkey didn't see the buggy until he was too close to stop.

Barkey told deputies he attempted to avoid the buggy, but an oncoming vehicle prevented him from moving from the southbound lane.

The truck and buggy then collided.

Barkey was uninjured and was cited for improper passing.