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- Lockport NY Union Sun Journal
A young Newfane man. married
only three weeks ago, died
about 3 this morning (May 2,
1960) when the 1959 sports car he
was driving missed a curve on
Lockport ° Olcott Rd. north of
Newfane. The auto plunged down
an 80-foot embankment leading to
Eighteen-Mile Creek.
Dead is Keith C. Bassler, Dale
Rd., Newfane. He would have observed
his 26th birthday on May
20.
His body was identified by his
wife, the former Wanda Ruth
Berndt, who was First at the
scene after Trooper Joseph L.
Lenahan discovered the wrecked
car about 6 this morning.
Mrs. Bassler stopped at the
scene near the Newfane Conservation
Club just north of the Village
of Newfane limits to inquire
if the trooper had seen her
husband in a little red car.
EARLIER REPORT
She was told the car and her
husband's body were down the
embankment
The trooper had patrolled toe
area earlier after a report by
Maurice Sprankle. Star Trailer
Ct, Newfane, who told him "a
car went over the embankment."
The car was not visible from
the road. On further investiga-
tion, Tooper Lenahan found the
wreckage.
Mr. Bassler was driving a 1960
Austin-Healy convertible which
the couple had bought recently.
He left home about 10 Sunday
evening.
Trooper Lenahan reported the
auto apparently "flew" off toe
road after Mr. Bassler missed the
curve.
SHOWER WAS PLANNED
The body and car were retrieved
by service station employes
and volunteer workers.
Mr. Bassler had been employed
as a scaler at the Niagara Power
Project and previously worked on
other consti uction jobs.
The couple was married April
6 in the Evangelical United
Brethren Church in the Rapids.
Mrs. Bassler is the daughter of
Mr. end Mrs. Herbert J. Berndt,
6725 Moyer Rd., Lockport. She
was formerly an admissions clerk
at Lockport Memorial Hospital.
Hospital employes were planning
a shower for her this evening.
The couple had been living at
the home of Mr. Bassler's pari.
Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Bassler,
Dale Rd. They had planned
to move soon into a newly-purchased
trailer.
His mother passed the scene on
me way to work in Lockport today,
not knowing of her son's
death.
Coroner Dr. George H. Muscato
Jr. pronounced Mr. Bassler
dead at the scene.
Mr. Bassler attended Newfane
Central School, and served for a
time In the Marine Corps in 1952.
Trooper Frank Britt, who aided
in the case, was a classmate of
toe victim.
Survivors besides his wife and
parents include s sister, Mrs.
Vera Bullard of Lockport. and
two brothers. Kenneth C. of Newfane
and Clifford of New York
City.
Funeral arrangements are being
handled by the Glenn H. Cor
win Funeral Homo to Newfane.
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