Bus Accident Survivors Share Experiences 60 Years Later

Bus Accident Survivors Share Experiences 60 Years Later

Michelle Pinon - News Advertiser

November 29, 1960.

The fateful winter day when a school bus and rail engine collided at the crossing north of Highway 15 on Secondary Highway 831 in Lamont killing 16 students and injuring 24 other students from Chipman who were on their way to school.

The following day one more student passed away. It was considered by many to be one of the worst tragedies in recent history. It irrevocably altered the lives of families and friends of the victims and survivors. It also had farreaching impacts as news of the tragedy made headlines throughout Canada and around the world.

Pictures of the funerals taken by Park Memorial

(Village of Chipman/Submitted)

It was unimaginable and unforgettable except for survivor Terry Cossey who has no memory of the accident.

“On Friday night I went for a drive with my buddy Bob Antoniuk in my dad’s new 1960 car. We did the usual things and did a couple of doughnuts on the ball diamond and stuff like that, and then I wake up in the hospital. When I woke up it was Christmas time.

So, I don’t remember much about the accident other than what people have told me over the years. I had a severe

concussion and a fractured skull. They tell me some doctor flew in from somewhere, treated me, and got my head back into shape.” Several vertebrae in Terry’s back were badly damaged and he had a dislocated leg.

“I know nothing about that day, but after, I couldn’t figure things out. I thought we had wrecked the car. I said how’d I get here, why am I here? Well, you had an accident. They didn’t want me to tell me anything because they thought I’d go into shock.

Read the full story in the November 25, 2020 edition of the News Advertiser - now online! https://issuu.com/thenewsadvertiser/docs/vna_november_25__2020_-_web?fr=sNzYzMjIzMjQ1MzM