Two Amish children killed in car crash in Fillmore County, twin sisters face charges

SUMNER TOWNSHIP, Minn. (KTTC) — Moments in life are often measured in yearly increments. We usually think of happy events like birthdays or anniversaries. But serious occasions are also marked on the calendar. That's the case for one Fillmore County couple — one year after their family of 10 became a family of eight.

In northwest Fillmore County, on a stretch of country road, a traffic sign speaks to passersby who know what happened on the sidewalk a year ago.

On September 25, 2023, several people's lives changed forever when a horse-drawn carriage was stopped on Fillmore County Road 1 just short of its daily destination.

Two young Amish sisters died in a traffic accident on their way to school – Wilma Miller, 7, and Irma Miller, 11.

The Fillmore County Sheriff's Office had originally reported that a woman named Sarah Petersen was driving the vehicle that struck the Millers' carriage. In a bizarre twist, court records in the days that followed showed that Sarah was covering for her identical twin sister, Samantha Petersen, who was reportedly high at the time of the morning collision.

Samantha's criminal complaint, filed in February in Fillmore County District Court, includes a disturbing confession to her then-employer.

“I just killed two Amish people; they were children,” Samantha told investigators, according to her employer's statement. She went on to say, “I'm not sober… I'm high on meth.”

A few miles from the crash site, a month after the accident, Wilma and Irma's parents, Menno and Sarah Miller, said that according to Amish tradition, death is seen as part of God's plan. Menno added that he had been told tears heal, and he believed that was true.

A year later, the healing process continues for the Miller family of rural Stewartville. Menno says there's not much more to say at a time like this.

Justice is not the Millers' top priority; it is not the Amish way of life, Menno explained.

Two Miller children survived the accident last September. Rose, now 14, and Alan, now 10, are doing well, according to their parents.

The Petersen twins are now 36 years old. Neither of them is currently behind bars while the trial takes place in Fillmore County.

Samantha is scheduled to return to court on September 30 for a full hearing, during which the judge will consider pretrial issues, including any motions from the state and/or defense.

According to the investigation, Samantha, the sister, was behind the wheel and is believed to have caused the fatal accident north of Spring Valley.

According to court documents, she was under the influence of methamphetamine.

Earlier this month, Samantha's attorney filed a defense claiming that any illegal substances in her body were the result of ingestion after the accident.

The criminal complaint states that blood and urine samples were not taken from Samantha until the day after the accident.

Samantha faces 21 charges, including negligent homicide.

Sarah Petersen's next court date is scheduled for October 21st for a plea agreement hearing on the 16 charges brought against her in this case.

According to court documents, Sarah tried to take the blame for her twin sister's death because Samantha was allegedly high at the time of the crash.

According to law enforcement authorities, the sisters had previously posed as each other.

The criminal complaint states that Sarah admitted in an audio recording made at the crime scene that she tried to deceive investigators by telling Samantha, “You would never know the difference between the two of us.”

More insights into Fillmore County Road 1

In addition to the accident last September, a second accident involving an Amish horse-drawn carriage occurred on the same stretch of highway last year.

Fillmore County Road 1 runs from Spring Valley north to the Olmsted County line.

Since it is a county road, it is maintained by Fillmore County.

From 2014 to 2017, the section of the local road was renovated.

According to Fillmore County Engineer Ron Gregg, County 1 was built to meet all current design standards for an undivided highway with an average daily traffic volume of 2,000 or more vehicles.

Gregg noted that additional traffic warning signs have been posted to alert drivers to the Amish horse-drawn carriages also traveling on the road.

In a statement to KTTC, Gregg added: “This tragic event, which resulted in the deaths of two young children, was not due to unsafe road conditions.”

Fillmore County Sheriff John DeGeorge told KTTC that reducing speeding in County 1 has always been a high priority for his office.

He said officers in the area regularly work on special speed enforcement projects as part of the Toward Zero Death program, the sole purpose of which is to keep an eye out for speeders and other traffic offenders.

Additionally, DeGeorge stated that Fillmore County has received assistance from the Minnesota State Patrol with traffic enforcement in County 1 to increase safety.

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