JMM Speaking

Three teenagers die in fiery car crash

The St. Croix Courier

By Carol-Ann Nicholson
Assistant Editor

Andersonville – Funeral services were held today to mourn three local teenagers who died in a fiery crash on Route 3 Friday night. At the same time questions are being raised about the state of the road and its contribution to the tragedy. Nearby residents say there have been too many accidents at the same location in recent years and the fault is the highway, not the drivers.

Around 11:40 Friday night, James Zografos, 17; Jason McKeeman, 18 and John Aaron Williams, 18, were killed when the car in which they were traveling lost control at the sharp bend at the junction of Route 3 and Weeks Road in Andersonville. The car, a 1980 Chevrolet Impala, was driven by Zografos.

A fourth passenger, John Westhaver, 18, is in critical condition at the Saint John Regional Hospital’s burn unit.

Police say the car went out of control in the curve, left the highway, hit a telephone pole, rolled over and then exploded.

Friends of the foursome say they were on their way home from McAdam when the accident occurred.

Friends who saw the group in St. Stephen earlier Friday evening said the teenagers indicated they had nothing to do and decided to go to McAdam for a drive.

One of the first people on the scene was Annie Anderson. Anderson and her husband, Clifton, have a house which is on the turn in the road where the Zografos car went out of control.

“We heard the sound of the car hitting the telephone pole and when we looked out it burst into flames. It was immediate,” says Annie Anderson.

“It was an awful moment, one we’ll never forget.”

The Andersons rushed to the scene, doing what they could to help.

“I’m sure the three boys died instantly,” she says. “The Zografos boy was thrown from the car. We went to him first and then helped the Westhaver boy.

“He gave me his name and then told me who the other three boys were and asked us to get them out…Then the gas tank blew.”

Anderson says her biggest concern, however, is the cause.

“It wasn’t speed and it wasn’t alcohol,” she states.

“It’s the road.”

“Last night I heard Sheldon Lee made a statement about inexperienced drivers, trying to say that the accident was caused by inexperience and that just isn’t the case.”

“We’ve been complaining about the road and the curve for years. The list of accidents that have taken place here is longer than your arm.”

“This is the first time the accident was with teenagers, all the others have been adult, experienced drivers.”

Anderson gives a number of examples of overturned vehicles at the same location.

“They include the overturning of a truckload of wood by D. Hamilton in March; the overturning of Donnie Goodine’s truckload of lemons; the overturning of a Flakeboard plywood truck. Jean Morrow’s truck went off the road and into my driveway. Then there was a couple from Saint John with a child.”

“The problem here is the road, not the drivers.”

Anderson says she and others who tried to help are saddened by the pain and grief of the parents and families of the victims.

“It’s so hard and difficult,” she states. “All our thoughts are with them.”

RCMP are continuing to investigate the accident. They said that this time, it does not appear alcohol was a factor.

This article was taken from “The Saint Croix Courier” Tuesday, May 3, 1994