1951 — Jan 28, Bridal party car misses Mystic Riv. bridge ramp, goes off old bridge draw, Boston MA–6

–6 AP. “R.I. Bridal Party of Six Drowned. Car Plunges Off Bridge Into Mystic River.” The
News, Newport, RI. 1-29-1951, p. 5.

Narrative Information

Jan 29, Monday, AP: “Boston, Jan. 29 (AP) – A bride and groom and four members of their bridal party drowned Sunday when their car hurtled off a dead-end ramp into the Mystic river. Police said the driver of the bridal party missed the ramp to a new bridge and took an old ramp which led to an open draw where the vehicle dropped into 40 feet of water.

“The dead were all of Woonsocket where the marriage was celebrated Saturday in St. Louis Catholic Church. They were: Henry Gauthier, 40, the bridegroom, his bride, the former Doris F. Cote, 32; Mrs. Paul Jacob, 51; Mrs. Jeanette Baillargeon, 41; Romeo J. Lagasse, 46; Francois X. Lariviere, 49.

“The car apparently went off the edge of the old draw about 3 A.M., police said, since a watch worn by one of the party stopped at 3:01.

“The tragedy was not discovered until nearly four hours later when police spotted skid marks and broken headlight glass near the unused draw. A diver found the car and sealed the doors to keep the bodies from being swept away by the currents. As the car was lifted aboard a navy vessel, a priest administered the last rites of the Catholic church.”

Sources

Associated Press. “R.I. Bridal Party of Six Drowned. Car Plunges Off Bridge Into Mystic River.” The News, Newport, RI. 1-29-1951, p. 5. Accessed 8-7-2023 at:
https://newspaperarchive.com/newport-daily-news-jan-29-1951-p-5/