Amish Buggy and Jeep Crash in Berne, Father Flown to Hospital, Children Suffer Injuries
It was supposed to be another quiet night in the Amish town of Berne, Indiana. Families were winding down, lamps were dimming, and the roads were nearly empty — until a Jeep came speeding down State Road 218 and crashed into a horse-drawn buggy carrying a family of nine. What happened next left the entire town in disbelief.
At around 11:20 p.m., emergency lights tore through the darkness. Broken wood, shattered glass, and personal belongings were scattered across the cold asphalt. The buggy, carrying the Schwartz family — two parents and seven children — had been struck from behind by a Jeep driven by 33-year-old Bradley Ocilka from Kentucky.
Witnesses described the crash as “like nothing this town has ever seen.” Seven family members were rushed to hospitals, including several small children. The father, 32-year-old Ruben L. M. Schwartz, was critically injured and airlifted by helicopter. The youngest, just a baby, was miraculously unharmed.
A Community in Prayer
By morning, Berne fell silent. Amish neighbors filled churches, lighting candles and praying for the Schwartz family. “We’ve never felt heartbreak like this,” said one elder. Meals, donations, and prayers poured in — a reminder that faith still unites when tragedy strikes.
Police Investigation
Officials believe the Jeep didn’t see the buggy in time. The investigation is ongoing, but police urge drivers to slow down on rural roads shared with horse-drawn buggies.
Hope Through the Darkness
The Schwartz family’s road to recovery will be long, yet their community refuses to let them walk it alone. Out of pain came compassion — proof that even the smallest towns can show the biggest hearts.
💔 In Berne, tragedy met faith… and faith refused to break.
