8-Year-Old Amish Girl and Horse Killed in Michigan Buggy Crash Involving Suspected DUI Driver

An 8-year-old Amish girl and a horse were killed in Michigan after a suspected DUI driver collided with a buggy. The incident occurred on Wednesday morning in Van Buren County while the girl was traveling with her 12-year-old brother.

Michigan State Police reported that troopers responded to the crash at approximately 8 a.m., involving a Ford SUV and the Amish buggy. Both children were transported to the hospital, where the girl succumbed to her injuries and was later pronounced dead. The boy remains in critical condition.

The driver of the SUV was arrested and taken to the county jail on charges of operating under the influence of an unknown substance. Authorities confirmed that neither the driver nor the two occupants of the SUV sustained injuries.

State police officials issued a reminder to residents in the Hartford Township area to be aware of the local Amish community and their presence on the roadways. Spl. Lt. DuWayne Robinson emphasized that the Amish have equal rights to use the roads alongside passenger vehicles and confirmed that it is legal for children to be in an Amish buggy without an adult.

Expressing condolences to the victim's family and the Amish community, Robinson acknowledged the tragic loss and the impact on the broader community.

At the crash site, investigators observed long black skid marks on the road, with orange markings indicating evidence collection points. Local resident Paul Landeck noted debris from the truck's front end scattered along the roadway and emphasized the responsibility of drivers to remain vigilant, given the Amish community's use of buggies, which are typically equipped with visible signals and flashing lights.

This fatal collision is one of several similar incidents in Michigan in recent years. In 2022, a crash in Montcalm County involving a pickup truck and an Amish buggy resulted in serious injuries for one man and the death of a horse. In 2019, a truck struck an Amish family’s buggy in Hillsdale County, requiring them to be airlifted to a hospital. Two years ago, a separate collision in northwest Michigan claimed the lives of a 7-year-old boy and an 11-year-old girl.