Courtesy of Jay Wade

Three are Killed and Three Injured
on Erie Railroad Crossing at Geneva Monday

Mrs. Fred Williams, Mrs. J. F. Wood and Little Marian Wood Dead,
Mrs. Myrtle Klingensmith, Wilbur Wood and Miss Hettie Peterson Injured
Their Ford Car, Caught Between the Freight Train
and Milk Platform, Demolished.

When a Ford touring car, driven by Mrs. Fred S. Williams, of Greenwood township, was struck by an eastbound Erie freight train on a crossing immediately adjoining the Erie Railroad station at Geneva, seven miles southwest of Meadville, at 3:20 o'clock Monday afternoon, three persons were killed practically outright and three others were injured, two very seriously.

All of the persons riding in the car with the exception of Miss Hettie Peterson, of Geneva, least injured of the party, were of one family connection, the dead being:

Mrs. Fred S. Williams, aged 52, of Greenwood township, six miles south east of Geneva.

Mrs. J. E. Wood, aged 22, of Greenwood township, a daughter of Mrs. Myrtle Klingensmith, also injured in the crash.

Marian Wood, 3-year-old daughter of Mrs. Wood.

The injured:

Mrs. Myrtle Klingensmith, aged 51, of Greenwood township, six miles southwest of Geneva, sister of Mrs. Williams.

Wilbur Wood, aged 5, son of J. F. Wood.

Miss Hettie Peterson, aged 57, of Geneva.

Mrs. Klingensmith was removed to the Spencer Hospital, Meadville, and is suffering from several severe scalp wounds, bruises and cuts about the body, and possible internal injuries.

Wilbur Wood suffered a badly broken and torn collar bone, besides being badly shaken up, and is resting at present at the home of his grandfather, William Wood, of Geneva.

Miss Peterson is believed not to be seriously hurt, although her condition has not yet been definitely determined.

All the victims were cared for by Dr. A. W. Clouse, of Geneva, and Deputy Coroner A. E. Byham was called to the scene. The dead are being cared for in Geneva.

How It Happened

According to information furnished by Dr. Clouse and R. H. Klingensmith, Erie station agent at Geneva, the four women and two children had driven to the station in two cars, leaving a shipment of milk there. Then they had all gotten into the Williams touring car, parked near the station, preparatory to starting for the home of J. H. Smock, father of Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Klingensmith, who resided alone in a small house near the ...(not legible)... Pike on Kennedy Hill.

It is stated that they were transporting some foodstuffs to Mr. Smock ...(not legible)... aged man, and that they were in splendid spirits as they loaded the edibles into the one car and prepared for the short drive. According to the partly-hysterical story told by Miss Peterson at the home of Dr. Clouse, the car was just on the crossing when she looked up and saw that the train was upon them. There was no time to do anything before...(not legible)...

The freight train was evidently traveling at a fair rate of speed, but not unusually fast, although trains endeaver to pick up speed at that point in order not to lose time on a long grade between Geneva and Meadville, Neighbors stated that they heard the engineer whistle for the crossing, and the station agent stated that he did not see the party after they left the milk for shipment, the building obstructing the view, but that he did hear them talking and laughing.

Smashed Against Platform

A milk loading platform, constructed of heavy timbers, stands about 50 feet from the crossing along the side of the tracks, and this was broken off and hurled to one side, while the car, entirely demolished, was dragged to a point about 90 feet from the road. The fact that the auto was caught bertween this heavy platform and the train caused the smashup to be much more serious than it might otherwise have been.

Surviving Mrs. Williams are her husband, Fred S. Williams; one daughter, Mrs. Caldwell, of Greenville, it is stated, and two grandchildren. Mrs. Wood is survived by her husband, J. F. Wood, and son, Wilbur, aged 5, who was injured in the accident.

Mrs. Klingensmith, at present a patient in the Spencer Hospital, has lost a husband and three sons from tuberculosis in the past 12 years, according to residents of Geneva, and a 9-year-old boy is her only living child, he living alone with his mother on their farm near Porters Corners. Since another sister besides Mrs. Williams had died some years earlier, there are few, if any, close relatives living now.

The accident was one of the worst that has occurred in this vicinity for years. It is reported that the same crossing was the scene of the death of a pedestrian through being struck by a train about a year ago.

Coroner W. E. Byham, of Meadville, visited the scene of the accident during the evening and empaneled a jury for a later inquest.