Car hits buggy; five hurt

CANTON — Five people were injured Friday morning when a car crashed into a horse-drawn buggy on County Route 25 near Pink Schoolhouse Road.

Gary B. Coffey, 59, of 880 West Road, Hermon, was driving a 1999 Mercury north about 10:15 p.m. when he hit the buggy driven by Richard D. Douglas, 48, Hermon, St. Lawrence County sheriff's investigators said. Mr. Douglas's wife and three children also were riding in the buggy.

Aimee J. Douglas, 42, was ejected from the buggy. She was taken to Canton-Potsdam Hospital, Potsdam, for treatment of head and leg injuries and several cuts.

The Douglas children — Asa, 3, Zebulon, 5, and Lloyd, 7 — and their father also were taken to Canton-Potsdam Hospital for treatment of various cuts and scrapes.

The horse, which injured a leg slightly, was found by deputies about two miles from the accident scene after having run away.

Mr. Coffey, who wasn't injured, was charged with reckless driving and following too closely. He was issued appearance tickets for Canton Town Court.

The buggy didn't have any markings to indicate it was a slow-moving vehicle, detectives said. The investigation is continuing.