New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-14
THREE IN AUTO KILLED.
HIT IN MERRICK ROAD.
Sister of One Victim on Train
4nother Grade Crossing.

Three men in an automobile were killed. two
Of them instantly. in an accident last evening
at one OF the worst grade crossings on the Long
Island Railroad, about thousand feet from
the station az Rockville Centre. The accident
occurred about $50 O'Clock.
The machine in which the threesnen We're was
running down the Merrick Road, approaching
the tracks, which hidden by bushes at an
angle. and apparently the men did not realize
their danger till they almost upon the
rails for they attempted TO escape by increas-
ing the speed of the car. as it was evidently
impossible TO stop. The one man who was not
instantly killed did not recover consciousness
though it was hoped to revive him enough to
obtain some explanation of the accident. Tho
two men who were killed at once We're Frank
Corren. a real estate dealer at No. 1,079 Bed
ford-ave and James Snyder of No. 10SJ9 Bed
ford-ave Rrooklvn; the third man. who was
hurled about eighty feet. but lived for nearly
an hour and a half, was c. +. Jewell, also OF
Brooklyn.
The crossing at this point is one OF the most
dangerous on the Long Island road and has
been the scene Of three fatal accidents within
four years The railroad lies IN a hollow ana at
no point on the Merrick Road on the side from
which the automobile was approaching Is the
track in sight The road approaches the track
at sharp angle QOWN u Steep 5lfNNS' O'A ~-N-'~'
side are high bushes. Any one approaching on
the road from this direction cannot see an ap-
preaching train till he is directly on the track.
In spite of the danger Of the crossing the only
means OF giving warning OF an approaching
train Is a small automatic electric pell, "hlch
does not begin to sound till the train Is nearly
to the crossing, and then cannot be heard Wheh
a. wind IS blowing till one is too near to turn
back. There is light at the crossing and
strangers over the road say they are often right
on the track In the night time before they arc
aware OF its existence.
There is a fagman stationed at the crossing
in the Daytime. He lives near the track, and de-
cared last night that he tried to avert the acci-
dent He happened to be in front OF his house
when he saw the machine approaching on the
road Just instant before. he heard the train
coming, and called to the men in the car. but
they paid no attention to him.
At this same crossing four years ago Brook
lyrl Sunday School coaching party struck
by train. Thirtytwo persons We're either
killed or injured. A year ago we'll do resi-
dent In the nelghborhood crossing the tracks
late at night when he struck and killed
There have been many narrow escapes at the
same place and the crossing has an evil reputa-
ton for miles around.
Mr Corrers sister on the train which
struck him and caused his death. When the
train was stopped Miss Corren, who was on her
wav TO their home in Amityville. alighted. and
on learning the nature OF the accident, became
excited and said her brother had started for
.he,r home this evening in his machine. Police
CHIEF shelley, whom she asked for information
assured her he was pretty certain that the auto
n,ohila struck was not her brothers. Reassured,
the Young woman went home on the train Be
fore she could reach home word had preceded
her there that il was her brotfer
The machine No. 9.40l. Of NeT-York was
r,c,ng alongside the tracks the Merrick Road al
this point running parallel with the railroad.
Near the station the road swings diagonally
..,oss the tracks at such angle that the dis
.ance across the tracks is more than three times
az great as though 1t crossed at right angles.
rha b,p touring car, racing just ahead of the
train reached the crossing first. but failed TO
clear the engine The automobile was tossed in
r. a.; rd two of the three occupants
eround 10 pieces beneath the engine
pimmock. the engineer OF the train, told the
Continued On fi.=d Eaga