It was supposed to be a calm, peaceful night along the familiar curves of State Road 218 in Adams County, Indiana. The stars shone brightly over the fields, and the quiet clip-clop of horse hooves echoed through the countryside — a sound that has defined life for generations of Amish families in the region. But just after 11 p.m. on October 7, that peaceful rhythm was shattered when a Jeep collided with a horse-drawn buggy, sending passengers flying and leaving the small community of Berne reeling in shock.
Local authorities later described the scene as “chaotic” and “heartbreaking.” Within moments, a quiet rural stretch turned into an emergency response zone filled with flashing lights, medical helicopters, and first responders doing everything possible to save lives.
The Night of the Collision
According to initial reports from the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, the buggy was traveling eastbound along State Road 218 when it was struck from behind by a Jeep driven by 33-year-old Bradley J. Ocilka, of Burlington, Kentucky. The buggy was carrying nine passengers, most of whom were members of the Schwartz family, residents of the nearby Amish settlement in Berne.
Investigators said the collision’s force was powerful enough to shatter the wooden buggy into pieces, scattering debris across the road. When first responders arrived around 11:20 p.m., they found the Jeep off the road in a ditch and the buggy splintered across the pavement, its wheels and frame broken apart. The horse, tragically, did not survive.
Inside the buggy had been Ruben L. M. Schwartz, 32, who was later identified as the driver, along with his wife Saraetta L. Schwartz, 32, a 2-year-old child, Joseph L. M. Schwartz, 20, and several other younger passengers ranging from preteens to teenagers. Local reports confirmed that seven people were taken to nearby hospitals, with six of those identified as juveniles.
Ruben Schwartz, who sustained the most serious injuries, was airlifted to Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne for emergency care. Joseph Schwartz and five other passengers were transported by ambulance to Parkview Hospital for evaluation and treatment. Both Saraetta and the toddler declined medical transport, remaining at the scene after being checked by medics.
A Chaotic Scene for First Responders
Those who arrived on the scene first described it as one of the most intense rural crashes they had encountered in recent years. The night air was filled with the noise of sirens, shouting, and helicopter blades. Emergency teams worked together in the glow of headlights and flashlights, trying to stabilize patients and assess the extent of injuries.
Responding agencies included Adams County EMS, Berne and Geneva Police Departments, the Berne Fire Department, Wells and Jay County EMS, the Indiana State Police, and Lutheran Hospital’s Flight Team. Coordination among multiple departments was crucial as they managed both the medical response and traffic control on the narrow rural road.
Sheriff Dan Mawhorr said his department was still piecing together the exact chain of events but confirmed that the Jeep struck the buggy from behind while both vehicles were traveling eastbound. “We know it was a dark stretch of road,” he noted. “Visibility is always a challenge on rural highways at that hour, and the speed difference between a car and a horse-drawn buggy can be substantial.”
Community Reaction: Shock, Prayers, and Support
The Amish community in Berne, one of the oldest Swiss-Amish settlements in the United States, is tight-knit — where families are connected not just by name but by shared work, worship, and history. News of the accident spread quickly the following morning, bringing an outpouring of support and sorrow.
Neighbors began visiting the Schwartz home, offering food, prayers, and words of encouragement. In Amish tradition, the community often gathers to assist in any way they can, whether it’s helping with chores, providing transportation, or collecting funds for hospital expenses.
Local residents who are not Amish also expressed sympathy. “You see buggies on this road every day,” one Berne resident told reporters. “They’re part of our landscape. It’s heartbreaking to think something like this could happen here.”
Social media groups across Adams and Wells counties filled with messages of hope and healing. Though the Amish themselves typically avoid online platforms, their neighbors and friends used these spaces to organize fundraisers and share information about how to assist the family through local churches and community centers.
A History of Shared Roads — and Ongoing Risks
For centuries, horse-drawn transportation has been a defining feature of Amish life. The slow pace, simplicity, and quiet strength of horse travel reflect their broader religious values of humility, community, and separation from the modern world. But as motorized vehicles have become faster and more common on rural roads, the dangers have grown.
Across Indiana, which has one of the largest Amish populations in the country, dozens of buggy-related accidents occur every year — often due to speed differences, visibility challenges, or distracted driving. In many of these cases, the Amish buggy offers little protection against a car or truck.
Experts from the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) have urged drivers to exercise patience and caution when sharing the road with buggies. “At night, especially on roads without wide shoulders or bright lighting, it’s essential to slow down when you see reflective triangles or lanterns,” said an INDOT safety officer. “Buggies move at 5 to 8 miles per hour. Vehicles traveling at highway speeds can close that distance in seconds.”
Night Driving and Visibility Challenges
State Road 218, like many rural routes, is lined with farmland and lacks strong street lighting. This means drivers depend heavily on headlights and reflective signs to detect obstacles ahead. Amish buggies, though typically equipped with reflective tape, lanterns, and slow-moving vehicle triangles, can still be difficult to spot at long distances.
Investigators have not yet confirmed whether the buggy involved in the crash had all its safety markers illuminated, but locals note that even well-marked buggies can be nearly invisible in certain conditions. Weather, headlight glare, or dips in the road can all reduce visibility.
A local safety advocate explained, “You could be driving at 55 miles an hour and think you have an empty road ahead, but if there’s a buggy just over a hill or around a bend, you have almost no time to react.”
Ongoing Investigation
As of the latest reports, no charges have been filed. Sheriff Mawhorr emphasized that investigators are continuing to reconstruct the collision, interview witnesses, and analyze evidence from both vehicles. The Jeep driver, Bradley Ocilka, was taken to a hospital for a legally mandated blood draw, which is standard in crashes involving serious injuries. He declined further medical treatment and was released pending results and further review.
Authorities have not suggested any indication of impairment or deliberate negligence but have asked the public for patience as the investigation proceeds. “This process takes time,” the sheriff stated. “We want to ensure we have all the facts before making any conclusions.”
The Amish Way of Healing
In Amish culture, tragedy is met with quiet strength and faith. Families often turn inward, drawing on community bonds and spiritual resilience rather than public displays of emotion. Funerals and recovery efforts are simple but deeply communal, reflecting their belief that every event — even suffering — is part of God’s will.
Members of nearby districts have already begun organizing assistance for the Schwartz family, bringing home-cooked meals, helping with farm chores, and offering transportation for hospital visits. Local churches and volunteers have also stepped in to collect donations for medical costs, as the Amish typically do not carry traditional health insurance.
In Berne, residents describe a spirit of unity that transcends cultural differences. “We may not live the same way,” said one neighbor, “but when something like this happens, we all come together. It’s what being a community means.”
A Reminder for All Drivers
Officials and safety experts are using this incident as a reminder for motorists across rural America. Collisions like this one, though often tragic, can sometimes be prevented with greater awareness and respect for shared roads.
Tips for safely sharing the road with horse-drawn buggies include:
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Slow down immediately when you spot a buggy ahead, especially on hills or curves.
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Do not honk or flash lights; it can startle the horse.
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Give extra room when passing — at least one full lane’s width.
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Avoid driving distractions like texting or adjusting GPS.
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Be cautious at night; look for reflective triangles or lanterns.
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Expect turns without signals, as some buggies do not use electronic lights.
The Indiana State Police continues to collaborate with Amish community leaders to promote visibility upgrades, such as LED lanterns and reflective harnesses for horses. While some Amish groups remain cautious about adopting modern technology, others have welcomed certain improvements that do not conflict with their beliefs.
The Broader Picture: Amish Life Amid Modern Roads
This tragic event highlights the ongoing balance between tradition and progress in places like Berne. The Amish, known for rejecting most forms of modern technology, still depend on the same roads that the rest of society uses for cars, trucks, and buses. This creates unique challenges as rural areas become more developed and traffic increases.
Despite these challenges, the Amish continue to thrive in their way of life — centered around faith, family, farming, and craftsmanship. Visitors to Adams County often remark on the beauty of their farms, the precision of their woodworking, and the hospitality of their community. Yet beneath the surface, there’s an ever-present awareness of the dangers posed by modern traffic.
A local historian notes, “In a sense, every time a buggy sets out on a public road, it’s a meeting of two worlds — the 19th and the 21st centuries. Each side has to make room for the other.”
Moving Forward: Hope and Healing
In the days following the crash, community members reported that several of the injured family members were in stable condition. Updates from local hospitals remain private, respecting the family’s wishes, but friends and neighbors continue to pray for full recovery.
As investigators continue their work, the Schwartz family’s story has quietly become a symbol of both resilience and reminder — resilience in how a community rallies in times of need, and reminder of how easily tragedy can strike when speed, darkness, and old traditions intersect on modern roads.
A Call to Compassion and Awareness
Incidents like this one bring out the best of humanity amid pain — showing that compassion is not bound by cultural or technological differences. Whether Amish or “English” (non-Amish), the people of Berne have shown that community care is timeless.
For those who wish to help, local officials recommend contacting churches, relief organizations, or community groups rather than directly visiting the family’s property. Donations of food, clothing, or funds can often be coordinated through pastors or local town halls.
In Reflection
While the road will eventually clear and the sound of horses’ hooves will again echo across the Indiana countryside, the memory of that October night will linger. For the Schwartz family, recovery will take time — physically and emotionally. For the rest of the community, it’s a sobering reminder that even in quiet places, danger can appear in an instant.
Every driver who passes a buggy on a country road now does so with fresh awareness. Every light reflected in the dark might be a family making their way home — trusting that others will see them, slow down, and share the road safely.
Because in the end, whether behind the wheel or behind the reins, everyone on those winding country roads is simply trying to get home safely.