On a stretch of State Road 218 near Berne, a traditional way of life collided with modern speed. A horse-drawn buggy carrying nine Amish passengers was struck from behind late at night, tearing the carriage apart and throwing its occupants onto the road. Seven were injured—most of them children—as a quiet journey home gave way to sirens, helicopters, and harsh lights cutting through the darkness.
As investigators work to determine what happened, deeper questions remain: how can fragile wooden buggies safely share roads built for fast-moving vehicles? For the Amish community, it’s more than an accident—it’s a stark reminder of the risks they face every day, where a single moment can turn routine travel into tragedy.
