A late-night crash on October 7 turned tragic when a Jeep slammed into a horse-drawn Amish buggy on State Road 218 near Berne, leaving a rural highway strewn with wreckage.
The buggy was carrying nine people. Seven were injured, including six juveniles. The driver, Ruben L.M. Schwartz, 32, was airlifted to Lutheran Hospital. Joseph L.M. Schwartz, 20, and five minors were transported to Parkview Hospital. Two others, including a 2-year-old child and Saraetta L. Schwartz, declined treatment.
According to Adams County Sheriff’s Office, the buggy was struck from behind by a Jeep driven by Bradley J. Ocilka, 33, of Kentucky. He was taken for a legal blood draw but refused medical care. No charges have been filed, and the investigation is ongoing.
Multiple emergency agencies responded, describing the scene as complex due to the number of victims. The crash has deeply affected the close-knit Amish community and highlights ongoing safety concerns for horse-drawn buggies on modern roads.
