3 Amish Children Killed in Buggy Crash on Their Way to School

A peaceful morning turned into unimaginable heartbreak when three Amish children, all siblings, tragically lost their lives in a horrific buggy crash in Indiana this week.

🚨 What Happened That Morning

The children — ages 9, 10, and 13 — were riding in a traditional horse-drawn buggy on their way to school near Bremen, Indiana, about 20 miles south of South Bend.

Suddenly, a Mercedes SUV, reportedly driven by a 17-year-old, slammed into the rear of the buggy.
All three children were ejected from the carriage and pronounced dead at the scene, according to The Kansas City Star.
The SUV driver was not injured.

❓ Is Anyone Facing Charges?

As of now, authorities have not confirmed whether the teen driver will face charges in connection with the crash.
The investigation is ongoing, and more details are expected in the coming days.

📈 Amish Buggy Crashes on the Rise

This devastating incident is part of a growing problem in Indiana, which is home to the third-largest Amish population in the world, with over 63,000 Amish residents as of 2024, according to Amish America.

A Purdue University study found that as the Amish population increases, so does the number of accidents involving horse-drawn buggies and motor vehicles.

“Compared to motor vehicle incidents, these collisions result in a disproportionate number of fatalities,” the study reports.

⚠️ Why Are Buggy Accidents So Dangerous?

Attorney Dan Armstrong told WNDU that Amish buggies are especially vulnerable because they lack basic safety features like seatbelts, airbags, or any kind of protective structure.

“There’s not going to be airbags. There’s not even going to be structural components to protect the occupants,” he explained.

🧠 Balancing Safety and Cultural Respect

Armstrong also emphasized the delicate balance between safety and religious freedom, saying:

“It’s tricky. We want safer roads, but we also have to respect the beliefs and way of life of the Amish community.”

Interestingly, according to WDNU, there is currently no minimum age requirement to operate a horse-drawn vehicle in the state of Indiana.

🕯️ A Community in Mourning

As the Amish community and local residents grieve the loss of these three young lives, questions about road safety, responsibility, and prevention continue to circulate.

But for now, a family is devastated, and a quiet rural town is left reeling from a tragedy no one saw coming.