BERNE, Indiana — A late-night collision on State Road 218 turned a peaceful rural road into a chaotic emergency scene after a Jeep struck a horse-drawn Amish buggy, throwing nearly everyone out of the vehicle and sending multiple people to hospitals. First responders were called to the crash at about 11:20 p.m. on October 7; when they arrived they found a badly damaged buggy scattered across the pavement and a Jeep in a ditch.
The buggy was carrying nine people at the time of the crash. Local officials say a total of seven people from the buggy were injured and taken for medical care; reports describe six of those occupants as juveniles, though some local accounts list slightly different age breakdowns. The buggy’s driver, 32-year-old Ruben L.M. Schwartz of Berne, was airlifted to Lutheran Hospital. Joseph L.M. Schwartz, 20, and five juvenile passengers were transported by ambulance to Parkview Hospital. Two other passengers — Saraetta L. Schwartz, 32, and a 2-year-old — declined treatment at the scene.
Adams County Sheriff Dan Mawhorr told reporters the Jeep — driven by 33-year-old Bradley J. Ocilka of Burlington, Kentucky — struck the slower-moving buggy from behind while traveling eastbound on SR 218. Ocilka was taken to the hospital for a legal blood draw but declined other medical attention at the scene. At the time of reporting no charges had been filed while the crash remains under investigation.
Multiple agencies responded to the scene, including Adams County EMS, Berne and Geneva police departments, the Berne Fire Department, Wells and Jay County EMS, Indiana State Police, and Lutheran Hospital’s Flight Team. Officials described the scene as chaotic, with first responders working quickly to provide medical treatment and to secure the site.
Photos released by authorities show the buggy broken and strewn across the road and emergency vehicles lit up along the rural highway. The Amish community in the large Adams County Swiss-Amish settlement is close-knit; a collision like this — especially at night — can have outsized impact on a single family and their neighbors. Local leaders and residents are expected to rally around the family as they recover.
This crash highlights the hazards horse-drawn conveyances face on modern roads. Passing or attempting to pass slow-moving buggies on narrow rural highways carries risk, particularly at night. Safety experts urge drivers to slow down, pass with care, and give extra room when a buggy or other slow vehicle is present. Rural law enforcement and community groups also frequently remind motorists to watch for reflective markers, lanterns, and to be alert for sudden slowdowns. (For local readers: please always slow for buggies and give them plenty of space.)
The investigation remains ongoing. No formal charges had been announced in initial reports; authorities continue to review the crash, interview witnesses, and evaluate any evidence collected at the scene. We will update this post as officials release more information.
Prayers & help: this family faces a difficult recovery. If you’re local and want to help, consider checking with community organizations or local churches about ways to support the family or a recovery fund — and please respect the family’s privacy while they heal.
