Early Saturday morning (May 8, 1971) at approximately 12:30 AM, a car driven by 17 year old James McCalligett of Somers, CT, slammed into a tree killing three youths. A fourth young man in the car succombed to his injuries several hours later. The crash occurred when the late model car failed to negotiate a right hand curve on Billings Road in Somers, went off the left side of the road, back across the road, smashing into a tree. Constable Ernest J. Bourque said the car was demolished. Volunteer firefighters had to cut and pry the twisted metal to get the victims out of the car. Dr. Edward Palumba, medical examiner, pronounced McCalligett and two of the passengers dead at the scene. Connecticut State Police Sgt. Stanley Nasiatkia and Trooper Daniel Montstream of the Stafford Springs Barracks are investigating. The teens were ientified as Gary Halon, 18, and Joseph Stranch, 17, both of East Longmeadow. The fourth victim, Donald Thomas, 17, also of East Longmeadow, died at 7:05 PM.
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Joseph F. Stranch was born in Springfield, May 15, 1953 and has lived at 608 Prospect Street, East Longmeadow for the last nine years. He was a member of St. Mary's Church in Hampden. He was a senior at East Longmeadow High School, scheduled to graduate in June. He leaves his parents Frank J. and Betty Ann (Vorce) Stranch, three sisters Mardel, Heidi and Gretchen, grandparents, Anthony Stranch of East Longmeadow and Mr. and Mrs. Alfred C. Vorce of Jaffrey, NH. The funeral will be 8 AM Monday at the Frank M. Forestiere & Son Funeral Home in Springfield, with a liturgy of Christian burial in St. Joseph's Church, East Longmeadow. Burial will be in Greenlawn Cemetery. Calling hours are Sunday 2-4 and 7-9.
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Two years after the horrific accident, classmates Charlie Maurer and Mike Keane donated a memorial marker installed at the base of the red maple that was given to the school as a gift from the Class of '71. Gary Halon and Don Thomas were fellow members of the high school football team.
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