Jeep plows into Amish buggy near Berne — father airlifted, multiple children

Jeep–Buggy Collision in Rural Indiana Injures Several, Including Children

BERNE, Indiana — A late-night collision on State Road 218 turned a quiet country stretch into an emergency scene after a Jeep struck a horse-drawn Amish buggy, ejecting several passengers and sending multiple people to area hospitals.

The crash occurred around 11:20 p.m. on October 7, prompting a large-scale response from regional fire, police, and medical crews. When first responders arrived, they found the buggy destroyed and debris scattered across the road. The Jeep had come to rest in a nearby ditch.

Authorities confirmed the buggy was carrying nine occupants at the time of the crash. According to the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, seven people were injured and transported for medical treatment. Reports indicate that six of the victims were juveniles, though some local accounts provide varying age details.

The buggy’s driver, 32-year-old Ruben L. M. Schwartz of Berne, was airlifted to Lutheran Hospital with serious injuries. Joseph L. M. Schwartz, 20, and five juvenile passengers were taken by ambulance to Parkview Hospital. Two other passengers — Saraetta L. Schwartz, 32, and a 2-year-old child — declined medical treatment at the scene.

Sheriff Dan Mawhorr said the buggy was struck from behind by an eastbound Jeep driven by 33-year-old Bradley J. Ocilka of Burlington, Kentucky. Ocilka was transported for a legal blood draw but refused further medical care. As of press time, no charges have been filed and the crash remains under active investigation.

Multiple agencies assisted at the scene, including Adams County EMS, the Berne and Geneva Police Departments, the Berne Fire Department, Wells and Jay County EMS, Indiana State Police, and the Lutheran Hospital Flight Team.

Officials described the response as swift but complex, with crews working through the night to treat the injured, clear debris, and secure the roadway.

Authorities have not released further updates on the victims’ conditions but said the incident underscores the continued safety challenges faced on rural roads shared by motor vehicles and horse-drawn transportation.