CAMPBELLTON GRAPHIC, THURSDAY JULY 25 1946:

CAR PLUNGED OVER RIVER BANK IN DEAD OF NIGHT WITH WELL KNOWN LOCAL YOUNG PEOPLE THE VICTIMS.

Believed to have died instantly in early hours of Tuesday morning---male victims of worst tragedy were war veterans.

The most serious highway accident in the history of this area of the country took place about one o'clock (ADT) Tuesday morning when six lives were lost at the western end of Matapedia bridge as the car in which they were riding broke through the wooden guard at the sharp turn onto the highway section and plunged into a pool many feet below.

Five of the six victims were well known young people of Campbellton and vicinity: Sanford McRae was a veteran and a son of Mr. and Mrs. Hudson MacRae, Campbellton; his wife, the former Frances Fitzpatrick, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Fitzpatrick, Campbellton; Mrs. Irene Guathier, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Benwell, Campbellton; Martin Gallant, war verteran, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Gallant, Campbellton; Miss Evelyn David, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Emile (Shalala) David, Atholville. The sixth victim and driver of the car was Franklin Murray Robertson, Sackville, an agent for the Wartime Prices & Trade Board, working out of St. John.

The car and bodies were brought to the surface by volunteers some time later and "unable to make out the writing of the paper"-------------------------------------(unable to make out writing). Following examination it was decided by the coroner that all victims had died from drowning, though McRae, Robertson and Mrs. Gauthier had received severe lacerations about the head. The inquest was held at the office of Dr. McDonnell and the jury recommended that a solid wall be constructed by the federal government at the treacherous corner where the crash occurred, the structure to be made of iron sunken in cement blocks to resist heavy shock.

Witnesses stated the car had dropped from the steep embankment at that point into deep water and had evidently turned over in its drop, landing almost upright on its wheels. It was badly damaged. Passerbys rushed to offer assistance stated they located the car with poles in the dark and that later its roof could be seen an estimated six feet below the surface.

The body of Robertson was sent by train to his home in Sackville yesterday morning. The funerals of Martin Gallant, Mrs. Gauthier and Mrs. McRae were held this morning from Church of Our Lady of the Snows, that of Miss David this morning from the Roman Catholic Church at Atholville and that of Sanford MacRae is being held this afternoon from the United Church.

The tragedy caused shock and sorrow throughout the entire community.