State Police investigate a fatal car versus Amish Buggy collision, leads to an arrest

On December 11, 2023, at 7:04 a.m., New York State Police members responded to a car versus Amish buggy collision on State Highway 812 in the town of Oswegatchie.  Troopers arrived on the scene, located a Dodge pickup truck and a demolished Amish Buggy with two ejected Amish passengers on the side of the roadway.  Heuvelton Fire and Rescue were on scene and rendering aid to the Amish passengers.  

An investigation determined a 2007 Dodge pickup truck, operated by Clark J. Zanker, age 34, of Ogdensburg, NY, was traveling south on State Highway 812 in the town of Oswegatchie when he failed to observe an Amish Buggy in the same lane of travel, striking the buggy in the rear, ejecting the two passengers in the buggy.

Joseph Yoder, age 21, of Lisbon, NY, was transported to Claxton Hepburn Medical Center and later transported to SUNY Upstate Medical Center for life-threatening injuries.

Heuvelton Fire and Rescue were performing life-saving measures on Abraham Shetler, age 21, of Heuvelton, NY, but unfortunately, he was pronounced deceased on the scene.

New York State Police have been actively investigating this Fatal vehicle versus Amish Buggy collision, resulting in the arrest of Clark J. Zanker for Criminal Negligent Homicide and Assault 3rd on July 7, 2025.  Zanker was arraigned in the Town of Gouverneur Court, where he was released on his own recognizance.