AUDIO: Victims named, heroic efforts lauded

Four teenagers, 2 female 2 male, died when the car they were in left the road in Nelson and submerged in a deep pond. The Miramichi Police Department named the victims, and lauded heroic efforts to save the young people.

At a press conference held at Police Headquarters at 2:30 pm on Easter Sunday, Deputy Chief Brian Cummings named the victims in last nights tragic crash that claimed the lives of four Miramichi teenagers.

Cummings said that speed and road conditions are likely contributors to the crash, that saw a 2016 Nissan Rogue (registered to the Matchett family) leave the highway and end up upside down in a deep pond.  Cummings emphasized that alcohol or drugs are in no way responsible for the accident.

He named the victims:

• Emma Connick, 18 of Barnaby
• Logan Matchett, 17 of Strathadam
• Cassie Lloyd, 17 years old of Escuminac
• Avery Astle, 16 years old of Strathadam

Cummings said there are eye witnesses to the incident and they have all been interviewed, and there is a lot of work left to do in the investigation. The road was closed until 8am this morning as an accident reconstruction team was on the scene.

The Deputy Chief went on to compliment the heroic efforts of the people who worked to save the lives of the teens, saying that he would not offer any details at the moment, and would only answer a few questions after the press conference out of respect for the families.

Mayor Adam Lordon was also at the press conference and passed along condolences to the families on behalf of the city.  “There are no words to express the loss,” he said.   “I didn’t know them personally, but it is clear from the tributes coming, they were all exceptional young people.”  Lordon also thanked first responders for their professional and dedicated work in the face of a tragic event.  He also complimented the schools for acting quickly to provide counselling for students, and urged students not to try to deal with their grief alone.

“There has been a lot of extremely heroic and astounding work to try to save the lives of these four kids,” Cummings said.  “It is a very tragic Easter Sunday.  This is going to send a major ripple through our community for a long time to come.”

“Outside of the obvious first responders who tried to save our kids, I want to thank others.  I watched hospital staff work last night feverishly and unendingly try to save these four kids. Our public works staff also made things easier for us during the chaos by closing streets.”

Cummings said there are debriefings available to first responders, and some have taken place already and more are planned for Fire Department staff tonight.

Cummings confirmed the families had all been notified.  “It was one of the saddest things I have ever seen.”