Accident Involving a Child on a Bobbycar Under a Horse Cart Occurs in Loffenau, Resulting in a Ripped-off Thumb at the Gernsbach District Court
In the quaint town of Loffenau, located at the intersection of Kirchhaldenweg and Reiterweg, an unexpected incident occurred on March 9, 2025. A three-year-old boy, near the roadside in a toy car, found himself in the path of two draft horses being led by a young woman from Gaggenau.
The horses, described as calm and not agitated, were being guided by their handler. However, as the woman attempted to manoeuvre her horses between the children on the narrow street, a tragic accident ensued. The boy suffered an open fracture of his left thumb, with the front tip of his finger severed, and the toy car's steering wheel was torn off.
Immediately following the incident, the boy was airlifted to a clinic in Tübingen for emergency surgery. The operation, which lasted three and a half hours, was successful, with doctors managing to reattach the boy's thumb.
The defendant, who signalled to her friend about the presence of the children, claimed to have walked past the boy "normally". However, neither she nor her friend had a clear view of the accident itself. A third witness and her daughter were present, but they did not see the accident directly.
Despite the incident, the case was dismissed with the consent of all parties, and the costs were paid to the public purse. Court director Ekkhart Koch confirmed that there was no evidence of fault by the horse handler.
The psychological impact of the incident was significant for both the third witness and her daughter. The now four-year-old boy, who underwent the traumatic experience, is doing relatively well. He is using his left hand without restriction and, thankfully, experiences no pain.
However, the boy's mother reported that doctors cannot guarantee there won't be problems later in his growth phase. This concern highlights the seriousness of the incident, even though the court case has come to a close.
The name of the horse breeder accused in the Gernsbach Local Court regarding this incident remains undisclosed to the public. As the town of Loffenau continues to recover from this unexpected event, the community hopes for a full and speedy recovery for the young boy involved.
