LOWVILLE — A Baldwinsville man is accused of driving under the influence of drugs with two small children in his car when it struck an Amish buggy Saturday afternoon, killing a horse.

Matthew R. Therrien, 39, was charged by Lewis County sheriff’s deputies with two counts each of felony driving while intoxicated with a child as a passenger and endangering the welfare of a child and single counts of driving under the influence of drugs, reckless driving, imprudent speed approaching a horse and failure to use due care approaching a horse.

Police said an unidentified 17-year-old Amish youth was driving his buggy with a single horse southeast on Route 12 near Dayan Street about 2:30 p.m. It is alleged that Mr. Therrien tried to pass the buggy, but collided with its rear, sending the buggy into the guardrails of High Bridge at the village line. The boy was thrown from the buggy, but declined medical care for numerous cuts and bruises. The horse was killed upon impact.

Police said Mr. Therrien’s two 4-year-old sons were restrained in his vehicle’s back seat and were not injured. Mr. Therrien also was not injured, but was taken to Lewis County General Hospital for collection of a blood sample. He then was processed at the Lewis County Public Safety Building before being arraigned in Town Court, where bail was set at $10,000.

Deputies were assisted by a state police drug recognition expert, along with the Lowville Fire Department and Lewis County Search and Rescue.

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