Tragedy Strikes Amish Family as Jeep Collides with Horse-Drawn Buggy in Adams County

A quiet October night turned to tragedy when a Jeep collided with a horse-drawn Amish buggy on State Road 218 near Berne, Indiana, shortly before midnight on October 7. What began as a calm stretch of rural roadway quickly became a chaotic emergency scene as first responders arrived to find the buggy splintered across the pavement and the Jeep overturned in a nearby ditch.

According to the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, the buggy was carrying nine occupants when it was struck from behind by an eastbound Jeep driven by 33-year-old Bradley J. Ocilka of Kentucky.

Multiple Injuries, One Airlift

Authorities said seven people were injured, including six juveniles.

• The buggy’s driver, 32-year-old Ruben L. M. Schwartz, was airlifted to Lutheran Hospital with serious injuries.

• 20-year-old Joseph L. M. Schwartz and five minors were transported by ambulance to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne.

• Saraetta L. Schwartz, 32, and a two-year-old child declined treatment at the scene.

Ocilka was taken to a nearby hospital for a court-ordered blood draw but refused further medical care. Investigators have not yet filed charges, and the crash remains under investigation.

Swift, Complex Response

Emergency units from multiple counties converged on the scene, including EMS crews, fire departments, police officers, and a medical flight team. Officials described the operation as “swift but complex,” given the number of victims and the extent of debris strewn across the rural highway.

Photographs from the scene show the buggy shattered into fragments, its wheels scattered under flashing red and blue lights that pierced the darkness of the Indiana countryside.

A Community in Mourning

In the tight-knit Amish community of Adams County, the crash has left deep sorrow. Families and neighbors have gathered to provide food, transportation, and emotional support to the victims and their relatives. Local leaders say such tragedies remind residents of the fragile coexistence between traditional and modern forms of travel.

Safety Reminder

Authorities are urging all motorists to exercise extra caution when driving at night, especially on rural roads shared with horse-drawn vehicles. Reflective markers, reduced speeds, and patience, they emphasize, can mean the difference between life and death.

“These families travel the same roads we all do,” Sheriff Dan Mawhorr said. “Slowing down and staying alert is a simple act of respect—and it saves lives.”