Indiana Amish children killed on the way to school in buggy crash with SUV driven by teen
Three tragic deaths shook the small town of Bremen, Indiana, when three Amish children were killed in a devastating accident on their way to school. Glenda Jo Yoder, 13, Darrell Yoder, 10, and Devon Yoder, 9, lost their lives when a Mercedes-Benz GLA collided with their horse-drawn buggy, throwing them from the carriage. The Marshall County coroner’s office confirmed that all three siblings died at the scene.
The driver of the SUV, a 17-year-old, emerged from the crash unharmed. Emergency responders, including a medical helicopter and an accident reconstructionist, rushed to the scene to investigate the tragic incident. Neighbors recalled seeing the children every morning as they made their way to school, picking up their friends along the route.
One resident, Katie, expressed her sorrow over the accident and highlighted the need for increased awareness among drivers regarding the presence of buggies on the road. She mentioned that horses pulling these carriages can sometimes get spooked and veer into oncoming traffic, posing a significant risk to both the riders and other motorists.
Indiana’s Amish population, numbering over 63,000, has been steadily increasing, leading to a rise in the number of collisions involving buggies and cars. Traditional Amish customs dictate the use of horse-drawn buggies for transportation, with no age restrictions on operating these vehicles in the state. However, this has resulted in a higher rate of accidents compared to motor vehicle incidents, with a Purdue University study in 2021 highlighting the disproportionate number of fatalities in such collisions, particularly among individuals under the age of 21.
The tragic loss of Glenda Jo, Darrell, and Devon Yoder serves as a poignant reminder of the dangers faced by the Amish community as they navigate the roads in their traditional buggies. The close-knit town of Bremen mourns the untimely passing of these three young souls, emphasizing the need for greater caution and understanding from all road users to prevent such heartbreaking incidents in the future.
