CANTON — A Canton man has been arrested following a fatal hit-and-run crash that occurred June 3 on Stiles Road in the town of Canton.

Herbert M. Planty, 44, was taken into custody June 8 after a multi-agency search led authorities to a residence on Emerson Road in the town of Potsdam. He was arrested without incident and transported to SP Canton for processing.

State Police say Planty was allegedly driving a Dodge Dakota pickup truck that collided head-on with a motorcycle operated by James R. McLean, 41, also of Canton. The crash occurred when the motorcycle attempted to pass another vehicle near the crest of a hill and was struck by the oncoming truck.

McLean was ejected from the motorcycle and later died from his injuries at Canton-Potsdam Hospital.

According to police, Planty initially stopped at the crash site but fled on foot into a wooded area. A search effort involving State Police K9 units, the Collision Reconstruction Unit, the St. Lawrence County Sheriff's Department drone team, and several area law enforcement agencies ensued.

Planty was charged with leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident resulting in injury and death and issued multiple vehicle and traffic violations. He was arraigned in the Town of Canton Court and remanded to the St. Lawrence County Jail in lieu of $20,000 cash bail, $40,000 bond, or a $200,000 partially secured bond.

The investigation involved assistance from the St. Lawrence County District Attorney’s Office, St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department, Canton Police Department, Potsdam Police Department, Canton Fire and Rescue, and Potsdam Rescue.