James McLean Killed in Motorcycle Crash in Canton, NY – June 3, 2025

On the night of June 3, 2025, a fatal collision occurred in the Town of Canton, New York, resulting in the death of 41-year-old James R. McLean of Rensselaer Falls. According to the New York State Police, McLean was traveling northbound on Stiles Road when he attempted to pass another vehicle while approaching a hillcrest. At that moment, a Dodge Dakota pickup truck traveling southbound crested the hill, resulting in a head-on collision.

McLean was ejected from the motorcycle and sustained critical injuries. He was transported to Canton-Potsdam Hospital, where he later died. The driver of the pickup truck, 44-year-old Herbert Planty of Canton, briefly stopped before fleeing the scene on foot into a wooded area. Law enforcement, including the State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit and K9 team, established a perimeter and conducted a search operation with assistance from the St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s drone unit. Planty remains at large, and the public is urged to provide any relevant information to authorities.