A late-night crash on October 7 turned tragic when a Jeep struck a horse-drawn Amish buggy on State Road 218 near Berne, Indiana. The peaceful rural setting quickly became a chaotic emergency scene as first responders arrived to find the buggy shattered across the roadway and a Jeep in a nearby ditch.<\/p>\n
The buggy was carrying nine people at the time of the crash. Seven were injured and transported for medical care, including six juveniles. The buggy\u2019s driver, 32-year-old Ruben L.M. Schwartz, was airlifted to Lutheran Hospital, while 20-year-old Joseph L.M. Schwartz and five minors were taken by ambulance to Parkview Hospital. Two others, including a 2-year-old and 32-year-old Saraetta L. Schwartz, declined treatment.<\/p>\n
According to Adams County Sheriff Dan Mawhorr, the buggy was struck from behind by a Jeep traveling eastbound, driven by 33-year-old Bradley J. Ocilka of Kentucky. Ocilka was taken to the hospital for a legal blood draw but refused other medical care. As of the latest reports, no charges have been filed, and the crash remains under investigation.<\/p>\n
Emergency services from multiple counties responded to the scene, including EMS units, police departments, fire crews, and a medical flight team. Authorities described the response as swift and complex due to the number of victims and the wreckage spread across the road.<\/p>\n
Photos released show the buggy in pieces and emergency lights illuminating the dark rural highway. In the close-knit Amish community of Adams County, such accidents carry a deep emotional toll, especially when multiple family members are involved. Community support is expected to play a key role in the healing process.<\/p>\n
This incident underscores the dangers faced by horse-drawn buggies on modern roads. Officials urge drivers to exercise caution, especially at night, and to respect the space and speed differences of these slow-moving vehicles.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A late-night crash on October 7 turned tragic when a Jeep struck a horse-drawn Amish buggy on State Road 218 near Berne, Indiana. The peaceful rural setting… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":14824,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14823","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n