MURRAY, Iowa — A southern Iowa man has entered a written plea of not guilty, in connection with a deadly horse-drawn buggy crash that occurred Nov. 12, 2025, in Clarke County. 41-year-old Jacob Wright, of Grand River, is charged with involuntary manslaughter, failure to render aid, and leaving the scene of an accident. His trial is set for March 30^th.

The crash happened in a rural road near Murray. Officials say Wright’s vehicle struck the buggy from behind, causing the death of 16-year-old Elmer Borntrager, of Murray.

Police said Wright was driving on a suspended license when the accident happened. Wright was being held in jail on a $20,000 cash-only bond