Beaverton Township, MI (August 28, 2025) – A 61-year-old Amish woman was hospitalized Tuesday morning following a crash involving a semi-truck and an Amish buggy on Beaverton Rd, west of South Bard Rd. The incident occurred around 7:40 a.m. and marks the second Amish buggy-involved crash in Gladwin County this month.
According to the Gladwin County Sheriff’s Office, the woman and a 17-year-old Amish boy were traveling eastbound on Beaverton Rd while towing an unoccupied buggy. A semi-truck, also headed eastbound, collided with them from behind. The impact left the woman with non-life-threatening injuries, and she was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
The 17-year-old boy, who was a passenger at the time, and the semi-truck driver—a 45-year-old man from Hersey, MI—were not injured in the collision. Deputies at the scene cited the truck driver for a traffic violation, though specific details about the cause of the crash have not yet been released.
Beaverton Fire and Rescue and MyMichigan Ambulance Service provided on-site support, ensuring timely care and scene safety during the response.
Our thoughts are with the injured woman and her family, and we hope for her full and speedy recovery.
Amish Buggy Collisions in Rural Michigan
Accidents involving horse-drawn buggies are a persistent and tragic issue in rural parts of Michigan, particularly in counties like Gladwin, where Amish communities travel daily by carriage on shared roadways. Unlike modern vehicles, buggies lack the speed and structural protection to absorb the impact of a collision with a large commercial truck.
Tuesday’s crash marks the second buggy-related accident in August in Gladwin County alone. On August 1, a 58-year-old Amish woman was killed, and two others were injured when a Jeep struck their buggy—underscoring the urgent need for increased driver awareness and safety improvements on rural roads.
Buggies are difficult to see at higher speeds, particularly during early morning hours when visibility is low. Despite efforts by the Amish community to use reflective markers and slow-moving vehicle signs, these precautions are not always enough to prevent accidents when faster-moving drivers fail to reduce speed or become distracted.
The law requires Michigan drivers to treat horse-drawn vehicles with the same caution as modern vehicles, including allowing ample space and passing only when safe. Failing to do so can—and often does—result in devastating consequences.
For the families involved, the trauma of such accidents extends well beyond physical injuries. Medical bills, recovery time, and damage to essential equipment like buggies can impact entire households—especially in Amish communities that rely heavily on physical labor and transport for daily life.
If you or someone you care about has been hurt in a buggy-related crash in Michigan, there are resources available to help.
Crashes involving buggies are uniquely serious and require informed, compassionate support. At Local Accident Reports, we help connect victims with care providers, legal resources, and guidance tailored to rural Michigan residents. Don’t face the aftermath alone—reach out today to explore your next steps toward healing and justice.
