Train Hits Car, Killing 5 . . . .

[NW Mailing List]

Following are excerpts from an article from Norfolk's Virginian Pilot
which I failed to date, but which happened in 1957 --

Trains Hits Car, Killing 5, Then a Truck, Injuring 1
"Five West Virginians were killed yesterday in a collision of the Norfolk
and Western's Powhatan Arrow and an automobile at Fort Gay, W.va.

The same locomotive, 45 miles and two hours later, at Chattaroy, W.Va., 
piled into a truck loaded with cinder block.  The truck was demolished  . . . .

Today on the same spot as yesterday's second collision, the locomotive,
tender and 23 cars of an N&W Cincinnati-to-Norfolk freight train derailed 
and the engineer was injured. 

At Fort Gay, the automobile was struck at a crossing 300 yards from the
town's high school.  In the vehicle were four children being taken back
to school after noon recess. All four and the mother of one of the children 
were killed. . . . .

R. H. Smith, president of the N&W Railway, and some 25 officers and
minor officials of the line were aboard the train at the time. . . . .

The Powhatan Arrow, No. 26, was 12 minutes late when the collision
occurred.  The train engineer said he was traveling at "the usual" 60 m.p.h.

. . . .After his return to Roanoke, last night, R. H. Smith, N&W president
said he did not see the fatal wreck.  He was told the car drove onto the
tracks in the path of the train.

Smith said he talked with the driver of the truck loaded with cinder block
and quoted the man as saying his brakes failed as he descended a grade
leading to the crossing where his truck was hit. "   

The engine assigned to No. 26 ?   609. A grade crossing collision at
Fort Gay, a grade crossing collision at Chattaroy, and a derailment at
Chattaroy the following day.  Just shows that on the railroad, stuff
happens.                       Harry Bundy
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