This fatal accident happened very early Sunday morning – in reality, more likely the tail end of Saturday night:

GOUVERNEUR, N.Y. — A North Country man was killed in a crash after the horse-drawn Amish buggy he was riding was hit by an SUV, according to State Police.

Troopers say the accident happened around 5:15 a.m. on Sunday on US Highway 11 near Bristol Road in the town of Gouverneur.

An investigation found that the horse-drawn buggy, occupied by Levi Swartzentruber, 20, and Mose Swartzentruber, 23, both from Antwerp, was hit by a 2002 Ford Expedition driven by a 36-year-old North Country man.

Troopers say Levi was pronounced dead at the scene, while Mose was taken to Gouverneur Hospital for leg and shoulder pain. The horse was severely injured and was put down by law enforcement.

This is St. Lawrence County, which is home to the large Swartzentruber settlement at Heuvelton. However this incident happened nearer the town of Somerville, site of a small one-district Amish settlement. The two victims are said to be from Antwerp, a nearby village in Jefferson County. The crash remains under investigation.

No details on how it happened, though at the time of the accident it was still 90 minutes before sunrise. Condolences to this family who lost such a young life. I sometimes wonder how the survivors feel in these accidents – especially when others are killed and by luck or good fortune you walk away relatively untouched.

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