Elkhart County, IN (August 17, 2026) – State Road 13 just south of County Road 32 was where a vehicle rear-ended a horse and buggy carrying two 11-year-olds and a 2-year-old Monday evening, according to police.
The crash happened just before 6 p.m., south of Middlebury. Both the vehicle and the buggy were traveling south on State Road 13 at the time.
Police say the 56-year-old driver was looking down at his notebook when he struck the rear of the buggy.
One of the 11-year-olds suffered a skull fracture that officials describe as non-life-threatening. The other 11-year-old and the 2-year-old were treated for cuts. The horse pulling the buggy also sustained minor, non-life-threatening injuries.
Vehicle Accidents Involving Horse and Buggies in Indiana
Indiana drivers owe the same duty of care to a horse and buggy as they do to any other vehicle on the road. A driver who looks away, even briefly, and rear-ends a buggy can be held responsible for the injuries that follow.
- Have each child re-examined in the days after the crash, since a skull fracture and other head injuries can worsen after the first exam
- Avoid giving a recorded statement to the driver’s insurance company before speaking with an attorney
- Preserve evidence early, including photos of the buggy, the vehicle, and anything that documents what distracted the driver
- Do not accept a settlement offer until an attorney has reviewed the full extent of each child’s injuries
Indiana law generally gives injury victims two years to file a personal injury claim (IC 34-11-2-4), which would set the deadline at August 17, 2028 for this crash. Because all three children are minors, Indiana law typically pauses that clock until each one turns 18, though gathering evidence now still protects the case.
Contact Our Indiana Motor Vehicle Accident Attorneys
Watching three children get hurt in a crash you could not have prevented is frightening, and waiting on test results after a skull fracture makes the wait harder.
Langer & Langer has represented Indiana families after crashes caused by distracted driving, and our Indiana motor vehicle accident lawyer team knows how insurance companies respond when children are hurt.
The notebook that reportedly distracted this driver, along with any phone records, is worth securing before it disappears.
We take these cases on contingency, so there is nothing to pay upfront and nothing owed unless we recover for your family.
Why Indiana families trust Langer & Langer:
- Founded in 1980, over 45 years serving Indiana families
- 100+ years of combined legal experience
- Recognized by Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, Indiana Trial Lawyers Association, American College of Trial Lawyers
