A quiet evening in Berne, Indiana turned tragic when a Jeep slammed into an Amish buggy on State Road 218, leaving seven people injured — most of them children.
The violent crash happened around 11:20 p.m., scattering debris and passengers across the dark rural road. First responders found the buggy destroyed and the Jeep resting in a nearby ditch.
Authorities confirmed the buggy carried nine passengers, including six juveniles. Ruben L.M. Schwartz, 32, was airlifted in critical condition, while Joseph L.M. Schwartz, 20, and five children were rushed by ambulance to Parkview Hospital.
Two others — Saraetta L. Schwartz, 32, and a 2-year-old — declined treatment at the scene. The Jeep’s driver, Bradley J. Ocilka, 33, of Kentucky, was subjected to a legal blood draw as part of the investigation. Sheriff Dan Mawhorr said the Jeep struck the buggy from behind, and while no charges have been filed yet, the crash remains under investigation by multiple law enforcement agencies.
