On Wednesday, December 15, 1993, seven teen-age boys who had squeezed into a compact car were killed in a head-on collision plunging the small town of Cadiz, Kentucky into mourning. None of the boys were wearing a seatbelt when their car crossed the center line and collided with a four-wheel-drive vehicle outside this town of 1,600 in southwest Kentucky.
"No community this size can take seven at one time," David Goodcase, administrator of Trigg County Hospital, said as the hospital filled with friends and relatives. Boys and girls sat in clusters and wept.
The seven boys, who were friends and students at Trigg County High School, were returning from their dinner break to their part-time jobs at a company that makes animal-call devices for hunters.
The state police said there was no indication that alcohol, speeding or weather were factors. The police said the driver, 17-year-old Steven Wallace, apparently lost control and was turning back into his lane when the accident occurred.
The driver of the other car suffered minor injuries. The police said he was wearing a seatbelt; the victims were not.
One of the teens was thrown completely out of the car, and three others were partially ejected by the force of the crash, police said.
The victims were the driver, Steven Wallace, 17; Jeremy Gordon, 16; David Lawrence, 16; Dale Garner, 16; Jessie Lawrence, 16; and Patrick Perry, 15, all of Cadiz; and Joey Rogers, 17, of Gracey.
Joint services for the seven youths killed in the two-vehicle accident were held at 1 p.m., Saturday, December 18, 1993 at Trigg County High School gym.
Four of the seven young men killed in this tragic accident were cousins and members of the Thomas and Bridges family
JEREMY WADE GORDON
A native of Christian County, Jeremy Wade Gorden was the son of Jon Anthony "Tony" and Doris Faye West Gordon. He was a junior at Trigg County High school and was a member of Trigg County Bow Club and Cadiz Christian Church.
Jeremy, 16, liked to spend time with his father. They would fish or hunt waterfowl. Mike Curling, a friend of Jeremy's father and a frequent hunting champion, said the boy had taken up the sport as soon as he was old enough "to keep both ends of the gun off the ground at the same time." Curling said Jeremy's love of hunting came from his father, Tony, who is a taxidermist. "He was a tremendous bow hunter," he said, his voice breaking into sobs. "A damn good kid."
DAVID JASON LAWRENCE
David Jason Lawrence was a native of Hopkinsville, Kentucky. He was born June 23, 1977, son of Larry David and Betty Bridges Lawrence, of Cadiz. David, 16, was a junior at Trigg County High School, where he was a member of FFA; and a member of Canton Baptist Church.
David was excited about killing an eight-point buck during gun season this year, said Layton Lawrence, a cousin of David's father, Larry. "It was a trophy to him," Layton Lawrence said. This last year and a half has been difficult for the Lawrence family. David's grandfather, Dennis, died in September, and his oldest uncle Jerry, died earlier this year. But there were good moments as well. David spent a lot of time with his cousin, Jessie, after Jessie moved to Trigg County and into his grandfather's old house. And David inherited his grandfather's pickup. Layton Lawrence said he enjoyed driving around town and meeting friends.
JESSE CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE
Jesse, a native of Nuremburg, Germany, was born July 4, 1977, son of William Dennis "Bill" and Barbara Jean Bullock Lawrence, of Cadiz, Kentucky. He was a junior at Trigg County High School, and attended vocational school in Hopkinsville. He was a Methodist.
Jesse was upset when his father retired from the Army and the family decided to move from Fort Hood, Texas to a family home in Trigg County. He was leaving friends behind, after all, and moving to a place where he would know only one person his age- his cousin, David. But as his father, Bill, who works as a concrete finisher, set about restoring his father's home, Jesse set about building a new life.
He spent time cruising with friends, riding four-wheelers and hunting. He adjusted quickly as he began his junior year of high school, apparently finding friends of his own among his cousin's friends, said Betty Rogers, Bill Lawrence's stepsister. She said Jesse seemed surprised to find people so friendly.
"He said he loved Trigg County," she said.
CRAIG PATRIC PERRY II
Patric Perry, who at 15 was the youngest boy in the car that Wednesday night, A native of Christian County, he was born Sept.1, 1978, son of Craig Patric and Stephanie Vinson Perry, of Cadiz, Kentucky. Patric was a freshman at Trigg County High School, where he was a member of FFA and the varsity football team; and a member of Cadiz Christian Church and Boy Scout Troop 57.
Patric liked to hunt, especially deer and geese. But his uncle said the family sometimes suspected hunting was just an excuse to spend time outdoors. "We always kidded him about his inability to kill anything," said Gary Siegmund, whose wife is a sister to Patric's mother. Patric had gone deer hunting each of the past three years, Siegmund said. The first two years he forgot to take shells with him. This year, he had shells but failed to load the gun before getting a deer in his sights. "I don't think he was real serious about it," Siegmund said with a laugh.
THE LINEAGE
(Jeremy Wade Gordon was the son of John Anthony and Doris Faye Wes Gordon, the grandson of Wallace Reed and Sally Isabelle Finley Gordon, the great-grandson of Burnett and Myrtle Mable Cunningham Finley and the great-great grandson of Elmer Elsworth and Rosa Lee Bridges Cunningham. Rosa was the seventh child of Cullen T. and Martha Virginia Thomas Bridges. Cullen was the twelfth child of William and Mary Thomas Bridges. William was the fourth child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges. Mary Thomas was the fifth child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.)
THE LINEAGE:
(David Jason Lawrence was the son of Larry David and Betty Ann Bridges Lawrence, the grandson of Dennis Bernard and Rebecca Ann Mitchell Lawrence, the great grandson of James Robert and Lucy Rebecca Mize Lawrence and the great-great grandson of William Alen and Margaret Jane Thomas Lawrence. Margaret was the fourth child of Stanley and Emily Ann Light Thomas. Stanley was the second child of Starkie and Mary Bridges Thomas. Starkie was the fourth child of James and Mary Standley Thomas. Mary was the seventh child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.)
THE LINEAGE:
(Jesse Christopher Lawrence was the son of William Dennis and Barbara Jean Bullock Lawrence, the grandson of Dennis Bernard and Rebecca Ann Mitchell Lawrence, the great grandson of James Robert and Lucy Rebecca Mize Lawrence and the great-great grandson of William Alen and Margaret Jane Thomas Lawrence. Margaret was the fourth child of Stanley and Emily Ann Light Thomas. Stanley was the second child of Starkie and Mary Bridges Thomas. Starkie was the fourth child of James and Mary Standley Thomas. Mary was the seventh child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.)
‘THE LINEAGE:
(Craig Patric Perry II was the son of Craig Patric and Stephanie Lee Vinson Perry, the grandson of Jesse Stanley and Kathryn Constance Sweeney Vinson, the great-grandson of Carey Thomas and Mallie Mae Guier Vinson and the great-great-grandson of Jesse Monroe and Forrest May Thomas Vinson. Jesse was the fourth child of Henry Cullen and Mary Catherine Sumner Vinson. Henry was the first child of Thomas Allison and Emeline Thomas Vinson. Emeline was the fifth child of Cullen and Elizabeth Futrell Thomas. Cullen was the first child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.)
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