DICKINSON, NY — On Oct. 25, 2018, at approximately 3:30 p.m., State Police responded to a report of a crash on State Route 11B in the town of Dickinson involving an Amish buggy.
An investigation at the scene revealed that a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze driven by Matthew J. Gainey, 38, of Rensselaer Falls, NY, was traveling westbound on State Route 11B. Gainey passed an uninvolved vehicle while cresting a hill. Gainey’s vehicle then struck the rear of an Amish buggy which was also traveling west on State Route 11B, just over the crest of the hill. The buggy was occupied by three passengers: 13-year-old Mattie D. Schlabach, 8-year-old Andy D. Schlabach, and 7-year-old Lena D. Miller all of North Lawrence.
The three children were ejected from the buggy and were all transported to the Alice Hyde Medical Center in Malone for treatment. Mattie Schlabach suffered a fractured orbital bone and jaw bone and Andy Schlabach suffered fractured vertebrae in his neck. Miller was transported for an evaluation only. Gainey was not injured.
This investigation is continuing.
NYSP news release Oct. 26, 2018