Somerset Co., PA (WJAC) — A local community is in shock after a woman was killed over the weekend when a tractor malfunctioned at the Union County West End Fair.
The Somerset County mother leaves behind two children and a husband and people who knew her reflected on who she was as a person.
It was on Friday when police said 33-year-old Brandy Horner was attending the county fair’s tractor pull.
Investigators say a catastrophic failure in one of the vehicles claimed her life and people who knew her are remembering who she was.
“Through different events, we worked together. Her youngest son actually went here for a 4-year-old preschool program, and that’s when I really got to know Brandy.”
Officials say Horner, of Conemaugh Township, was hit in the neck by debris from one of the exhaust pipes on a vehicle competing in the Union County Fair’s tractor pull.
Authorities say she was pronounced dead at the Evangelical Community Hospital at around 9:23 p.m. Friday night.
The director of one of her child's preschool programs, Jen Percinsky, says she leaves behind an impact of kindness and support.
“She was in the childcare field, so she knew just how tough it could be. Like I said, her little gestures of gifts, and just asking what she could do. And I know she was a big part of her preschool program where she worked, working with the preschoolers and the families there as well.”
People who knew Horner say she loved working with kids.
“I know a lot of the teachers that worked with her. Facebook is blowing up that they’re just devastated, and she pretty much raised their children, and she did such a great job with them.”
Percinsky says she created a donation for the family on the church's social media page.
She says she didn’t expect the level of support that came and thanks the people who are coming forward.
“Within twenty-four hours, everything just blew up, and I got so many calls and emails of people wanting to donate to her family.”
For more information on how to donate to Horner’s family, you can contact Percinsky at 814-479-7390 or via email.
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