Baxter - John R. - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

John R. Baxter, 74-year-old New Richmond man, was killed Monday morning when the pick-up truck he was driving was struck broadside by a Pennsylvania Railroad freight train about a quarter of a mile west of Darlington. The fatality was the fourth in Montgomery County in the past six days after the county had recorded only two traffic deaths the first 193 days of this year. The accident occurred where County Road 625 East dips down and crosses the Pennsylvania tracks. “The grade itself is a hazard,” said Sheriff Clarence Demoret, referring to the obstruction of a clear view of the tracks caused by a dip in the road. “The weeds made the hazard more so,” he continued referring to the obstruction caused by high weeds near the tracks. He added, however, that if the driver of the truck had stopped at the crossing to look both ways he should have been able to see the train coming. The tracks are marked by large rusted railroad crossing signs but no automatic signals are located there. The truck was traveling south on the county road and the train was headed northeast at the time of the accident. The sheriff’s department reported that Baxter was a beekeeper and owned and raised bees. Mrs. Jim Parks, whose home is located immediately south of the railroad track where the accident occurred reported that Baxter was also a bee inspector and was on his way to their home to inspect their bees at the time of the accident. According to the sheriff’s report, the engineer estimated that the train’s speed at 28 miles per hour when the crash occurred. The train struck the truck broadside at the door on the right side shoving the vehicle ahead of the engine 36’ down the tracks and off onto the south side of the tracks against an embankment. Damage to the 1949 Dodge pick up truck made it a total loss, according to the sheriff’s report. Damage of $250 was estimated to the train engine. The crash occurred at 8:40 a.m. Men near the scene of the crash told the sheriff’s department they did not see the accident but did remember hearing the train blow its whistle as it approached the crossing. The truck approached the tracks from the fireman’s side of the train and the sheriff reported the fireman said he saw the truck in front of the train but it was too late to stop. The train engineer, Ned Streiff of Terre Haute told sheriff’s officers he was not aware that anything was in the train’s path until after the train struck it, officers reported. Baxter died in the wreckage of his truck at the scene of the accident. Dr. Samuel Millis, the county coroner listed the cause of death as a skull fracture. Mr. Baxter was born Oct 27, 1890 in Madison County to Marion and Irene Baxter. He was educated in the Deputy schools and was a member of the Methodist Church at West Point. He was married to Benza Martin Dec 22, 1915. Survivors include his wife, four daughters, Mrs. Waldo Sims of Alliance, Ohio; Mrs. James Carr of Lafayette; Mrs. John Abney of Crawfordsville and Mrs. Art Laramie of Springfield, Ohio; two sons, Elmer of Indianapolis and James of Hammond; two brothers, Judson of Opa-Locka, Fla and Frank of Lebanon and 8 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by four sisters and three brothers. Services will be at 2 p.m. at Helms Funeral Chapel in Linden. Rev. James Hannebohn will officiate. Burial will be in New Richmond Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after noon Wednesday. - kbz