A quiet Friday afternoon near Decatur turned violent when a horse-drawn buggy was rear-ended by a car going 60 mph. The two Amish occupants were ejected and badly hurt.

Shock on County Road 300 West

What started as an ordinary day on the rural roads of Adams County quickly escalated into a devastating crash just outside Decatur.

At around 5 p.m. on July 25, emergency crews were dispatched to the 1600 block of North County Road 300 West. A car heading north had slammed into the back of a horse-drawn buggy traveling in the same direction. The force of the collision was enough to eject both passengers from the carriage.

Victims Identified, Injuries Serious

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office identified the injured as Christ Wickey, 42, and Emma Wickey, 40. Both were transported to a local hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

One sentence here to break rhythm.

A hospital spokesperson confirmed on Saturday that both Christ and Emma are now in stable condition. Emergency responders acted quickly at the scene, likely saving the couple from worse outcomes.

Investigation Focuses on Driver Inattention

So far, the investigation points to driver inattention and unsafe following distance. The car, officials say, was trailing the buggy far too closely — a dangerous move under any circumstance, but especially in Amish country where buggies often share the road with fast-moving cars.

It wasn’t foggy. It wasn’t raining. Roads were clear. No impairment suspected either.

Still, something went terribly wrong.

Deputies say the driver, who has not yet been named, is cooperating with the investigation. Charges have not been filed, but officials haven’t ruled anything out.

Car Meets Buggy: A Dangerous Equation in Rural Indiana

While horse-drawn buggies remain a common sight in Adams County — home to one of Indiana’s sizable Amish communities — incidents like this raise ongoing questions about rural road safety and cultural coexistence.

Here’s how the numbers stack up:

These aren’t just numbers. Behind every figure is a family, a community, and a sense of safety shaken.

Buggy Drivers Have Rights Too

Here’s something many drivers forget — under Indiana law, buggies have as much right to the road as any car or truck.

Still, accidents involving buggies often follow a similar pattern:

• A driver doesn’t slow down in time.

• Poor lighting or visibility plays a role.

• Inattention — texting, adjusting the radio, or just daydreaming — factors in.

“People don’t realize how vulnerable buggy drivers are,” one local resident told us Saturday. “There’s no metal cage. No airbags. Just wood, leather, and faith.”

Community Shocked, But Not Surprised

In Adams County, these aren’t freak events. They’re all too common.

People around Decatur know these roads. They also know how often things go wrong — and how fast. The aftermath always follows the same rhythm: ambulance sirens, scattered harness straps, a broken buggy wheel lodged in a ditch.

A nearby farmer who didn’t want to be named said he’s seen “too many close calls to count.”

One sentence to let it sink in.

The Sheriff’s Office issued a short statement offering thoughts and well wishes to those affected, but the silence in the community spoke louder.

Calls for Better Safety Measures Grow Louder

While there’s no easy fix, many locals say something has to change.

Some are calling for:

• More visible signage warning of horse-drawn vehicles.

• Mandatory reflective triangles or lights on buggies.

• Driver education campaigns aimed at safer rural road etiquette.

Others, including Amish leaders, urge patience and respect over regulation.

State lawmakers have occasionally debated buggy-related safety reforms, but progress has been slow. Culture, cost, and religious concerns often stall proposals.

Not the First — Won’t Be the Last?

Adams County isn’t alone in grappling with this. Other areas with Amish or Mennonite populations — Holmes County in Ohio, Lancaster in Pennsylvania — face the same deadly intersections of tradition and technology.

In Indiana, the tension between old and new plays out on roads like County Road 300 West every day. And while this crash may fade from the headlines, for Christ and Emma Wickey, recovery will take time.

Their buggy is gone. Their routine shattered.

And their story is now a warning.