Three Siblings Die in Heartbreaking Amish Buggy Collision

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Three Amish children on their morning journey to school were killed Wednesday when their pony cart collided with a Mercedes SUV in Marshall County, Indiana. The tragedy has reignited debates about road safety measures for horse-drawn vehicles as Amish communities continue to expand into new rural areas across America.

Siblings Glenda Jo Yoder, 13, Darrell Yoder, 10, and Devon Yoder, 9, were traveling along Fir Road in a pony cart when a Mercedes GLA struck them from behind, throwing all three children from the cart. Emergency responders, including a medical helicopter, arrived quickly at the scene, but all three children were pronounced dead at the site, according to People.

The driver of the Mercedes was uninjured in the collision, which occurred around 8 a.m. as the children were following their daily route to school. Local resident Katie told WSBT that she witnessed the aftermath of the crash, noting that horse-drawn vehicle accidents are unfortunately common in the area.

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Growing Safety Concerns

“I’ve seen stickers going over the top of their slow-moving vehicle signs that impede it. They’re taking carts that are intended for off-road use on a farm and putting them on the road,” Katie explained. She described how Amish children typically travel together, with “the first ones that are furthest out start, and then they just pick each other up and ride together.”

Indiana currently has no minimum age requirement for operating horse-drawn vehicles on public roads. According to the Amish Heritage Foundation, traditional Amish beliefs prohibit the operation of motor vehicles, though horse-drawn buggies are permitted. These carriages typically lack modern safety features like seat belts or airbags.

Attorney Dan Armstrong told People that the situation presents complex challenges: “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.”

Similar Tragedies in Virginia

The Indiana accident follows a pattern of similar tragedies in other states with growing Amish populations. In Virginia, which along with West Virginia represents the fastest-growing region for Amish settlements, multiple fatal crashes have occurred in recent years as communities expand into rural areas.

Last July, an 8-year-old Amish girl died in Cumberland County, Virginia, when a pickup truck struck her family’s buggy from behind, injuring her parents and four siblings. Cumberland County Sheriff Darrell Hodges has since become an advocate for improved safety measures, according to Cardinal News.

“I have picked up the last child out of a ditch that I am going to on this issue,” Hodges declared, proposing innovative solutions like radio-frequency identification transmitters that would trigger warning signs as buggies approach.

Religious Freedom vs. Public Safety

The challenge for lawmakers lies in balancing safety concerns with respect for religious freedoms. A Virginia bill that would have strengthened requirements for buggy safety features failed during this year’s General Assembly session after concerns about infringing on Amish religious practices.

Unlike motor vehicle accidents, most buggy collisions occur “in broad daylight, on straight roads, where somebody ran into their back ends,” according to Mark DeWalt, professor emeritus at Winthrop University who has studied Amish communities for nearly 50 years. “People driving large vehicles or trucks are not paying attention. A person looking at their cell phone while driving 60 is still going to hit them.”

This perspective suggests that driver education rather than additional buggy equipment might be more effective at preventing tragedies. Many Amish community members share this view, with John King, an Amish storeowner in Buckingham County, Virginia, stating, “If a buggy has proper lighting that is working correctly, I don’t think any more lights are going to help.”

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Community Response

Despite the devastating nature of these accidents, Amish communities often respond with extraordinary grace. Following the July 2024 crash in Virginia, Sheriff Hodges witnessed Amish men surrounding the driver who had struck their community member’s buggy—not in anger, but to offer forgiveness.

“They were telling him that it wasn’t his fault,” Hodges recalled, stunned by their compassion in the face of tragedy. This response reflects the Amish belief that events, whether tragic or joyful, are controlled by God and must be accepted.

As investigations into the Indiana crash continue, both Amish and non-Amish communities are left searching for solutions that can prevent future tragedies while respecting the traditions and beliefs that define this unique American community.

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