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GM Amphibious Vehicle - Sinking at Little Beach, Port Stanley
- Museum / Archive
- Elgin County Archives
- Part Of
- St. Thomas Times-Journal fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- GMD
- graphic material
- Date Range
- January 25, 1983 - September 27, 1983
- Accession Number
- 2008-01
- Storage Location
- W7 B1 F37 1
- W7 B1 F37 2
- W7 B1 F37 3
- W7 B1 F37 4
- W7 B1 F37 5
- Museum / Archive
- Elgin County Archives
- Part Of
- St. Thomas Times-Journal fonds
- Creator
- St. Thomas Times-Journal
- Description Level
- Item
- Accession Number
- 2008-01
- Storage Room
- Archives Storage Rm. 110
- Storage Location
- W7 B1 F37 1
- W7 B1 F37 2
- W7 B1 F37 3
- W7 B1 F37 4
- W7 B1 F37 5
- GMD
- graphic material
- Date Range
- January 25, 1983 - September 27, 1983
- Series
- St. Thomas Times-Journal fonds - GM Amphibious Vehicle file
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 23 x 15 cm
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 15.2 x 9 cm
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 15.3 x 10.5 cm
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 15.3 x 8.7 cm
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 11.3 x 12.6 cm
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 11.3 x 11.6 cm
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 18.5 x 11 cm
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 19 x 10.5 cm
- 1 newspaper
- 4 newspaper clippings
- 1 verdict of coroner's jury
- 1 investigation report
- Scope and Content
- Six black and white photographs used in St. Thomas Times-Journal article published January 25, 1983 with captions:
- "Discuss Recovery Plans - A General Motors official holds a picture of the test vehicle which sank in Lake Erie Monday while undergoing trials off Port Stanley at Little Beach. One man drowned in the mishap and another was saved from the lake. Looking on is Jeff Wright, one of two contract drivers hired to hook towing cables to the submerged vehicle, which was expected to be hauled from about six metres of water today. This morning divers finally pinpointed the amphibious armored vehicle which has eight wheels and is power in the water by two propellers." (1a)
- "Rescue Vehicle - A General Motors amphibious light armored vehicle stands on Little Beach after returning from Lake Erie where it rescued one of two crewman who were testing a new prototype similar to the one shown which sank yesterday at noon. The other crewman died in the mishap. An autopsy is being conducted today at St. Joseph's Hospital, London." (1b)
- "Recover Body - A St. Thomas ambulance attendant leads men who recovered the body of a London man from Lake Erie at Orchard Beach in Port Stanley after a GM test vehicle sank yesterday about noon in 1 C. degree water. Another man on the vehicle was rescued by a second vehicle." (1c)
- "Lifesavers - An amphibious armored vehicle which was used to rescue an RR 7, St. Thomas man from frigid lake waters yesterday is shown standing on Little Beach, Port Stanley. The vehicle entered the lake after a larger version of this one being tested by GM of London sank during tests. One of two crewmen died. The man recovered safely was wearing a lifejacket. The dead man was not wearing a life jacket when pulled from the lake, according to eyewitnesses at the scene." (1d)
- "Press Conference - Cpl. Gord Paterson of St. Thomas OPP gives an impromptu press conference after recovery of the body of a GM employee who drowned Monday while testing a new armored vehicle which sank at Port Stanley." (1e)
- "No Motorized Vehicles - The sign denoting Little Beach also carries a smaller sign warning the public that no motorized vehicles are allowed on the beach. However, General Motors Diesel Division in London got special permission from Port Stanley council to test a new amphibious vehicle at the beach. The vehicle sank yesterday causing the death of one of two crewmen. In the background, two youths are shown near where the vehicle entered the water." (1f)
- Two black and white photographs used in St. Thomas Times-Journal article published January 26, 1983 with caption: "Pulled From Lake - Contract diver Jeff Wright climbs out of the amphibious General Motors test vehicle which was finally pulled from the waters of Lake Erie off Port Stanley about 5 p.m. Tuesday. The vehicle sank Monday, claiming the life of one GM employee, and it took most of the day Tuesday to finally haul it out of the chilly lake water. An attempt earlier in the day failed when cables hooked up to the vehicle snapped." (2a) (2b)
- Newspaper clippings about the sinking of the amphibious vehicle and the GM inquest.
- Verdit of Coroner's Jury for Sheerazali Pirani, who drowned in Lake Erie on January 24, 1983 at noon.
- Investigation report from the Canadian Coast Guard regarding the death of Sheerazali Pirani.
- Name Access
- Port Stanley (Ont.)
- St. Thomas (Ont.)
- St. Thomas Times-Journal
- Subject Access
- Death Records
- Military
- Automobiles
- Beaches
- Police Services
- Newspapers
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