PLATTSBURGH — Delivery of absentee ballots in Clinton County has been held up by a court case that involves a candidate who was killed in a car accident last week.

At question — before the accident — was whether two candidates for Altona Town Council can appear on the Republican Party line on the Nov. 3 ballot.

Democrats are claiming that the certificates of nomination for Herbert O. Therrian and Ronald L. Lee Sr. were not filed by the Sept. 22 deadline, and therefore they should not be allowed on the ballot.

Republicans say the certificates were filed on time in the office, although they acknowledge that they were not time-stamped.

The case will be heard in Clinton County Court at 1:30 p.m. today before Judge Kevin K. Ryan.

TRAGIC CRASH

One of the candidates, Lee, 69, was killed in a double-fatal accident on Military Turnpike last Friday afternoon.

The Chevy Malibu that Lee was riding in collided with a van driven by Aaron J. Trombley, 32, of Morrisonville.

According to police reports, the van was heading south and swerved into the northbound lane toward the car.

The car turned into the southbound lane to avoid a collision, but the van swerved back and hit the side of the Malibu, according to State Police.

The accident is still under investigation, and no tickets have been issued.

Robert J. Wood, 44, the Altona Republican Party chairman, was also killed in the wreck.

Therrian, 56, who was driving the Malibu, and Trombley, were injured.

Lee, Wood and Therrian were returning home after driving to Plattsburgh to sign papers at the Board of Elections for the court case when the accident occurred.