Three Amish children were killed instantly when their horse-drawn buggy was struck from behind by an SUV on a rural Indiana road, leaving their tight-knit community devastated and raising urgent questions about buggy safety on American roads.
At a Glance
- Siblings Glenda Jo (13), Darrell (10), and Devon Yoder (9) died when their horse-drawn buggy was hit by a Mercedes-Benz SUV in Bremen, Indiana
- The children were thrown from the buggy upon impact and pronounced dead at the scene; the 17-year-old driver was unharmed
- The accident occurred just after 8 a.m. near the intersection of Fir and Fourth roads, about 20 miles south of South Bend
- Indiana has over 63,000 Amish residents, with studies showing buggy-vehicle collisions have a disproportionately high fatality rate for young victims
- The tragedy highlights ongoing tensions between maintaining traditional Amish practices and ensuring road safety
The Tragic Morning Commute
The routine morning journey to school ended in tragedy when siblings Glenda Jo (13), Darrell (10), and Devon Yoder (9) were killed after their horse-drawn buggy was struck from behind by a Mercedes-Benz GLA. The collision occurred just after 8 a.m. near the intersection of Fir and Fourth roads in Bremen, Indiana, approximately 20 miles south of South Bend.
Marshall County authorities reported that the impact ejected all three children from the buggy, resulting in fatal injuries. First responders, including a medical helicopter and accident reconstructionist, arrived promptly but could not save the children who were pronounced dead at the scene.
The 17-year-old driver of the SUV escaped the crash without physical injury, though the psychological impact of such an event remains immeasurable. Neighbors told reporters that seeing the Yoder children traveling by buggy was a common sight in the area. “They just pick each other up and ride together,” said local resident Katie, who frequently observed the children commuting to school in their horse-drawn carriage.
šš»Tragic update on the triple fatality in the Amish buggy-car crash: the Mercedes driver is a 17yo girl. Sheās uninjured, but will have to live with the horror of killing 3 siblings, for the rest of her life. She rear-ended the buggy. š¢ https://t.co/8lJhZlWOpu
— Ms. Pistolicious (@mspistolicious) April 12, 2025
A Growing Safety Crisis
This tragic incident is not an isolated case but part of a troubling pattern affecting Amish communities across America. Indiana hosts one of the nation’s largest Amish populations with over 63,000 members, resulting in significant numbers of horse-drawn vehicles sharing roads with faster, heavier motor vehicles.
A 2021 Purdue University study revealed alarming statistics about buggy-car collisions, noting that these accidents often result in fatalities, with a disproportionate number of victims being under 21 years of age. The inherent vulnerability of buggy passengers ā riding in vehicles without modern safety features like seatbelts, airbags, or protective chassis ā contributes to this elevated risk.
The accident has intensified debates about road safety measures for areas with significant Amish populations. Local residents familiar with the area note that collisions involving horse-drawn vehicles are unfortunately common, often with devastating consequences. Indiana law does not impose age restrictions on buggy operation, in deference to Amish cultural practices, which allow children to drive these vehicles from a young age. This creates a unique safety challenge as inexperienced young drivers navigate horse-drawn buggies alongside motorized traffic traveling at much higher speeds.
Balancing Tradition with Safety
The tragedy highlights the complex challenge of reconciling religious freedom with public safety concerns. Amish religious beliefs prohibit the use of motor vehicles, making horse-drawn buggies essential to their way of life. Proposed safety measures often face resistance when they conflict with traditional practices. In Virginia, where similar accidents have occurred, a bill to enhance buggy safety features failed to pass due to concerns about infringing on religious practices. Safety advocates continue to search for solutions that respect Amish traditions while better protecting community members on public roads.
“One of the difficulties of course is not infringing on the way of life of a segment of the population that we have… trying to make that balance between making the roads safer, but at the same time accommodating people who live a certain way and have certain beliefs.”, said attorney Dan Armstrong
Safety experts suggest that driver education for both buggy operators and motor vehicle drivers might prove more effective than requiring additional equipment on buggies. Educating motorists about safely sharing roads with slower vehicles and teaching buggy drivers defensive strategies could potentially reduce accidents without imposing technological requirements that conflict with Amish beliefs. The Marshall County community now mourns three young lives lost while grappling with how to prevent similar tragedies in the future ā a challenge faced by growing Amish communities nationwide.
