Notes:
Easton Express, Thursday, December 26, 1963, Page 1
3 Bangor Youths Die In Locomotive, Auto Carsh Near Flicksville
4 Other Area Youths Injured, 3 Seriously In Christmas Eve Accident
at Crossing of Erie-Lackawanna R.R. in Washington Twp.
Three Bangor youths died in injuries suffeed at 9:45 p.m.
Christmas Eve when their car and a diesel freight locomotive
collided at a grad crossing near Flicksville. Four otehr were
injured in teh accident, three seriously.
Robert M. Butz, 17, of 631 Broadway, died in the hosptial
at noon yesterday.
Ryder and butz were seniors at Bangor Area Joint Senior High
School.
State police at Easton siad teh accident occurred on Washington
township Route 710, between Ackermanville and Flicksville,
at the Erie-Lackawanna Railroad grade crossing just west of
Flicksville. Investigating officers said ther was no evidence
that the drived had made any attempt to halt the eastbound
car befroe it slammed into the side of the northbound diesel.
Members of the train crew were Glenwood A. Beegle, of 437
Main St., Bangor, engineer; Arthru DeLong, 631 S. High St.,
bangor, fireman; John M. Buzzard, 321 S. Fourth St., Bangor,
conductor; Eugene B. Osterman, 44 Kline St., Bangor, flagman
and James J. Wills, 729 George St., Pen Argyl, trainman. None
of the train crew was injured.
The crew reportedly ws returing from Martins creek to Bangor
after having completed switching operations in the Martin Creek
yard. Buzzard, Osterman and Wills were riding in the single
caboose being pulled by the locomotive.
DeLong, riding on the left side of teh cab, was the only witness
to the accident. he told police he saw the car approacch from
the west and start down an include toward teh grade crossing.
He said he notified Beegle, the engineer, to "Hit" the
air brakes when it appeared the driver of the car was not making
any effort to slow down and stop for the crossing. DeLong said
the warning horns of the diesel were being sounded when he
first saw the car approach, and continued to be sounded until
the engine reached the crossing.
DeLong said the car hit the left side of the locomitive and
bounce back diagonally, landing about 25 feet northwest of
the point of impact. The vehicle was demolished.
There are no flashing light signals at the crossing. A corss-arm
sign and a bell are the only warning devices. Police said the
bell was found to be in working order.
The injured were taken to the hospital in teh Windo Gap fire
department ambulance and the Liberty Fire co. Ambulance of
Bangor. The Lower Mount Bethel Ambulance Corps responded also
but it's services were not required.
Troopers james Horton and William Johnson are continuing the
investigaion.
George T. Kametz, Northampton County coronore, ordered autopsies
to determine the cause of death of VanNorman, Ryder and butz.
The Hough Home for funerals, Bangor is in charge of burial
arrangments for all three.
Robert M. Butz
Robert M. Butz, 17, was a son of Geroge and mary Edward Butz,
631 Broadway, Bangor. He was born in Pen Argyl and rsided
in Bangor all his life. A senior at Bangor Area Joint High
School, he was amember of theschool's german club.
He also was a member of Bangor Presbyterian Church, it's Sunday
School and the Slate Belt Chapter, Order Demolay, Bangor.
His parents are his only survivors.
The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Hough Home
for Fuenrals, Bangor. |
