Amish Woman, 22, Killed In Afternoon Buggy Wreck; Police Say Driver Was Asleep At The Wheel (Michigan)

Days after a wreck left two Amish women in critical condition in southern Michigan, another Amish woman is the victim in the state, this time in a deadly crash.

A 22-year-old Amish woman was killed Thursday afternoon after a vehicle struck her horse-drawn buggy in Sanilac County. Michigan State Police say the driver reportedly fell asleep at the wheel. From WNEM:

SANILAC COUNTY, Mich. (WNEM) – A 22-year-old Amish woman and a horse were killed Thursday afternoon after a car struck the woman’s horse-drawn buggy.

Michigan State Police troopers responded to the crash on Peck Road near Maple Valley Road in Flynn Township. The crash happened around 4:43 p.m.

Investigators believe a 55-year-old North Branch man fell asleep at the wheel and hit the woman’s buggy.

The woman and the horse were pronounced dead at the scene.

In a statement, Michigan State Police offered their thoughts to the family and community, and said that “Motorists are reminded to remain alert and attentive while driving. Even a momentary lapse in attention can lead to tragic and life‑altering consequences.”

A 22-year-old Amish woman was killed in a traffic crash on Peck Road near Maple Valley Road in Flynn Township, Sanilac County.

Preliminary investigation indicates the crash occurred at approximately 4:43 p.m. on October 8, 2026, when a 55-year-old North Branch man reportedly fell asleep at the wheel and struck the woman’s horse‑drawn buggy. The woman and the horse were pronounced deceased at the scene. Our thoughts are with the victim’s family and community during this difficult time.

Motorists are reminded to remain alert and attentive while driving. Even a momentary lapse in attention can lead to tragic and life‑altering consequences.

Troopers were assisted at the scene by the Sanilac County Sheriff’s Office, Brown City Police Department, Aspire EMS, Tri Hospital EMS, and the Brown City Fire Department.

— MSP Third District (@mspbayregion) October 9, 2026

The horse was also killed in the wreck. There are no further details on how this happened. Falling asleep at the wheel is something you think of happening late at night. But in reality it’s not all that surprising to hear of it happening at this time of day when you consider late afternoon drowsiness as a factor.

It’s sad to learn of a life lost so young. It’s not publicly known if this woman was married or had children, but she certainly had family that are going to miss her.

Second Serious Crash On This Road

As we’ve seen in other cases, buggy crashes happen in the same general areas of communities, and even on the same road. And this is not the first serious buggy crash on Peck Road in Flynn Township. In May 2025, a 35-year-old Amish man and his horse were seriously injured when a car rear-ended his buggy at Peck and Isles roads and fled the scene.

That could mean that a particular area or intersection or crossing presents particular dangers. Or, it may simply reflect that a road happens to have a good bit of buggy traffic simply due to its location within an Amish community.

Sanilac County is home to two separate Amish communities, one fully in the county and one shared with neighboring counties. The Cass City Amish community, with around 1,000 people, spreads across Sanilac, Tuscola, and Huron counties. And the second settlement consists of around 750 Amish people living in the Marlette area. Given the location, it’s more likely she belonged to the Marlette settlement.

Michigan has had a series of serious buggy crashes in recent years, including hit-and-runs and crashes that killed or seriously injured Amish children. Some 261 buggy crashes were recorded in the state between 2016 and 2023. After a period where fewer were being reported, it seems we are starting to see more coverage of these wrecks in the state.