Cormier Village hayride accident
Encyclopedia
The Cormier Village hayride accident refers to an accident that occurred in the Canadian
rural community of Cormier Village
, New Brunswick
, 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Cap-Pelé
and 22 km (13.7 mi) east of Shediac
.
On the afternoon of Sunday, October 8, 1989, the members of the McGraw and Legere families were participating in a hayride
, travelling in a wagon pulled by a farm tractor, as well as 2 following pickup trucks, along the shoulder of Route 945
. They were approximately 100 m (328.1 ft) from the end of the ride at a community hall in Cormier Village where they had planned a family reunion as part of their celebration of Thanksgiving Weekend
.
The driver of a tractor trailer
hauling a 6-tonne load of hardwood logs cut into 20 ft (6.1 m) lengths lost control as he passed, resulting in the entire load of logs tipping onto the tractor/wagon and pickup trucks. 13 people were killed and 45 injured with many victims pinned and crushed; 5 children were among those who died.
Emergency responders from the RCMP
in Shediac, volunteer fire fighters from Cap-Pelé and numerous ambulance paramedics from across Westmorland County responded to the graphic accident scene. Victims were transported to tertiary care hospitals in Moncton, approximately 45 km (28 mi) away.
The horror of this accident, both for survivors and emergency responders, resulted in the Government of New Brunswick
forming a provincial Critical Incident Stress Management Team.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
rural community of Cormier Village
Cormier Village, New Brunswick
Cormier Village is a Canadian rural community located in Westmorland County, New Brunswick. It is administratively part of the Municipality of Beaubassin East....
, New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
, 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Cap-Pelé
Cap-Pele, New Brunswick
Cap-Pelé is a Canadian village in Westmorland County, New Brunswick.The community's population meets the requirements for "town" status under the Municipalities Act of the Province of New Brunswick, however there has been no move to change municipal status.-Geography:It is located on the...
and 22 km (13.7 mi) east of Shediac
Shediac, New Brunswick
Shediac is a Canadian town in Westmorland County, New Brunswick.Situated on Shediac Bay, a sub-basin of the Northumberland Strait, the town calls itself the "Lobster Capital of the World" and hosts an annual festival every July which promotes its ties to lobster fishing; the largest lobster...
.
On the afternoon of Sunday, October 8, 1989, the members of the McGraw and Legere families were participating in a hayride
Hayride
A hayride, also known as a hayrack ride, is a pleasure ride in an open truck, wagon or sleigh which has been decorated with hay or straw and similar farmlife paraphernalia...
, travelling in a wagon pulled by a farm tractor, as well as 2 following pickup trucks, along the shoulder of Route 945
New Brunswick Route 945
Route 945 is a Canadian highway in Westmorland County, New Brunswick.The road runs from an intersection with Route 933 at Haute Aboujagane in the west to an intersection with Route 133 in Cap-Pelé in the east.-Communities along Route 945:*Haute Aboujagane...
. They were approximately 100 m (328.1 ft) from the end of the ride at a community hall in Cormier Village where they had planned a family reunion as part of their celebration of Thanksgiving Weekend
Thanksgiving (Canada)
Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day , occurring on the second Monday in October , is an annual Canadian holiday to give thanks at the close of the harvest season....
.
The driver of a tractor trailer
Semi-trailer truck
A semi-trailer truck, also known as a semi, tractor-trailer, or articulated truck or articulated lorry, is an articulated vehicle consisting of a towing engine , and a semi-trailer A semi-trailer truck, also known as a semi, tractor-trailer, or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) articulated truck...
hauling a 6-tonne load of hardwood logs cut into 20 ft (6.1 m) lengths lost control as he passed, resulting in the entire load of logs tipping onto the tractor/wagon and pickup trucks. 13 people were killed and 45 injured with many victims pinned and crushed; 5 children were among those who died.
Emergency responders from the RCMP
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
in Shediac, volunteer fire fighters from Cap-Pelé and numerous ambulance paramedics from across Westmorland County responded to the graphic accident scene. Victims were transported to tertiary care hospitals in Moncton, approximately 45 km (28 mi) away.
The horror of this accident, both for survivors and emergency responders, resulted in the Government of New Brunswick
Government of New Brunswick
The Government of New Brunswick refers to the provincial government of the province of New Brunswick. Its powers and structure are set out in the Constitution Act, 1867....
forming a provincial Critical Incident Stress Management Team.