Amish tragedy in Indiana raises safety concerns on rural roads
A tragic accident has occurred in the state of Indiana, USA. On a rural road, a car forcefully collided with a horse-drawn carriage driven by a 17-year-old. Three children were killed. The victims were Amish, which has sparked an online discussion about their safety.
The accident occurred about 31 kilometres from South Bend in Marshall County on April 9. A Mercedes collided with the horse-drawn carriage while the children were on their way to school. According to WIBC station, the force of the impact was immense, causing all passengers to die instantly.
The Indiana authorities reported that 9-year-old Devon, 10-year-old Darrel, and their 13-year-old sister Glenda were thrown from the carriage onto the road. Their lives could not be saved, even though an ambulance arrived at the scene quickly.
The tragedy sparked a discussion on social media. Internet users noted that in the state of Indiana, there are no laws regarding the age limit for drivers of horse-drawn carriages (driven by a 17-year-old).
All were Amish, who make up a large social group in the region—around 63,000. They travel on the roads in carriages, and the number of accidents involving them is steadily increasing.
Such vehicles do not have seat belts or airbags, which could save lives. Regulations that would mandate such equipment are contrary to Amish traditions.
The local authorities have been trying to reach a compromise on this issue for many years, but have been unsuccessful. Representatives of the Anabaptist religious sect avoid modern technology.
