Canton residents want safety changes after deadly Amish buggy crash

CANTON, New York (WWNY) – A group of St. Lawrence County residents is calling for change following a deadly Amish buggy crash that happened on their road last month.

People who live along County Route 25 in the town of Canton want something done to make the stretch safer.

The Sept. 13 crash between a pickup truck and an Amish buggy killed two people and injured several others.

Ellie Recinos lives next to where the crash happened, though she wasn’t home at the time.

“When we were coming back on the Little River Road, we had to go all the way around. It was all blocked off,” Recinos said.

Residents say the road is busy with Amish families transporting milk and others going to school. Neighbors say the Amish population is growing.

“It’s not a question of if. It’s a question of when the next fatal Amish buggy accident happens,” said Katrina Hebb, a Canton town resident.

Residents along the road spoke up at a county board meeting, calling for changes to make it safer.

They pointed out that pulling off the road onto the shoulder isn’t realistic right now because of the steep drop-off when leaving the pavement and hitting gravel.

Residents are hoping, too, for the speed limit to be lowered, especially in front of the nearby school.

“This is not like Route 11, right? This is a road that goes into the southern Adirondacks. It is very hilly, it is very curvy, there’s a ton of blind corners,” Recinos said.

Neighbors said since going to the board meeting last Monday, the county has added more gravel to parts of County Route 25.

The St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office has also set up two speed radar signs along the road, near where the crash occurred.

“We’ll get some data together. We’ll find out target times, and we’ll find out an average speed, and I’ll share this information if you want it,” Engle said. “Public safety is my responsibility, and that’s something we’re going to take a closer look at.”

One neighbor updated lawmakers on the people injured in the crash and said one woman was still in the intensive care unit of a hospital, while another pregnant woman lost her baby.