Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 103, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 March 1918 — FATAL ACCIDENT NARROWLY AVERTED [ARTICLE]

FATAL ACCIDENT NARROWLY AVERTED

Another fatal accident at the McKinley avenue crossing of the Monon -was narrowly averted shortly after 6 o’clock Saturday evening, when the local freight that was doing some. switching there backed into the 'Dodge car being driven by John: Robbins of west of Fair Oaks, who' was accompanied by Mary and Katie Luther and Lydia Sthneider, also of that community. Two wheels of th® automobile were broken off| and the car was carried down the! track several yards before the train was stopped. Fortunately the freight cars were moving slowly and all the occupants of the auto escaped being ground to pieces by jumping from the automobile, but two of the young ladies were considerably bruised up in falling to the ground when alighting from the car, just as it was struck. There is no watchman at this crossing after 6 o’clock and the sidetracks are frequently filled with freight cars, making it impossible for one to see a train until they are directin the center of the tracks.