Restigouche in History
The Campbellton Graphic
August 3, 1944

11 Dalhousians

3 Of 14 Hockey Spectators In 2 Autos Uninjured

Considered One of Restigouche County's Worst Road Accidents; Miss May Wood, Allan Elsliger in Critical Condition.

Campbellton Feb. 9 (Special) Eleven persons were injured in an automobile crash at Callahan's Hill at about 1 a.m. today. It was one of the worst road accidents recorded in the history of Restigouche County. All of those injured were from Dalhousie and vicinity. They were among a party that had attended a hockey game between the Dalhousie and Campbellton high schools here last night. Two of the injured, May Wood, Dalhousie Junctin, and Allan Elsliger, Dalhousie were said to be in serious condition.

A police report of the accident today said that Elsliger's car collided with the rear end of an automobile fdriven by Lawrence Cook, Dalhousie. Cook's machine was believed to have stalled near the top of Callaghan's Hill, about two miles from here on the main highway. The car began to back down the hill, and the lights went out.

Elsliger's automobile came up rapidly behind, and the driver failed to notice the other machine until he was almost on top of it. In the collision the Elsliger car, trust to the left of the road, cut off five posts to roll over the side of a steep embankment. Cook's machine remained on the road. Cook and two others, Frank Savoie and Auguste Savoie, were unhurt. They hailed a passing motorists, who drove some of the more seriously injured to the Soldiers' Memorial Hospital here. An ambulance was summoned, and the remaining accident victims also were brought to the hospital. Because of what was reported s an overcrowded condition at the Soldiers Memorial Hospital, it was necessary to remove two of the injured to the Hotel Dieu Hospital, where medical aid was given.

Fractured Skull

A checkup on the injured tonight revealed that Miss Wood was suffering from a fractured skull. She is a daughter of Ernest Wood, former train dispatcher here and now station agent at Dalhousie Junction.

Allan Elsliger had a fractured pelvis and a punctured kidney. He is the star pitcher of the Dalhousie Royals of the Restigouche County Baseball League.

The others injured were Raymond Savoie, Paul Buck, William Manderson, Vincent Doiron, Lindon Beckingham, Gordon Angle, Willard Arseneau and Donal Brown, all of Dalhousie. The last two were in the Hotel Dieu Hospital and the others at Soldier's Memorial. All were suffering from fractured bones and minor injuries. While their injuries were painful, non was considered in a serious condition.

Miss Loretta Wood, a passenger in the Cook automobile with her sister, May, was slightly injured but was able to go to her home at Dalhousie Junction today.

There were seven occupants in each car, two in the front seat of each machine beside the driver, and four in each of the rear seats. Both cars were damaged badly as a result of the crash and had to be towed to a local garage this morning. The Elsliger car was believed to be a total wreck.

R.C.M.P. were not notified immediately of the accident, but an investigation of the circumstances surrounding it was made this morning by Corporal J. M. Boby of the local detachment.