New-York tribune., 1922-03-27
Killed i'm
Auto Stalled on
Grade Crossing
Iron Works Owner, Brother
and Employee Hurled to
Death by n. Y. Central
Train Near Yonkers
Bodies Carried on Pilot
Women Faint and Crowd
Is Panic Stricken When
Child Is Killed by Car

Three men were killed and their
bodies mangled almost beyond recogni-
tion late yesterday, when a passenger
train on the Putnam division of the
New York Central Railroad struck Il
loaded automobile on grade crossing
near Gray Oaks station. in Yonkers.
The car, owned and driven by Reuben
Levine, owner of the Levine Iron
Works, was astride both tracks when
struck by the engine of five-car train
running at high speed. The automobile
WAS lifted bodily from the rails and
crumpled into scrap metal. All three
occupants were hurled to the pilot of
the engine and pinned there by wreck
age.
Two Brothers Victims
Those killed were Reuben Levine and
his brother, Samuel Levine, ma ority
stockh older Of the Levine Iron Works,
in Nepperhan Avenue, Yonkers, and
John Pigot, of 135 Oliver Street, Yon-
kers. Just before the train was
brought to a stop the body of Pigot
fell under the wheels and was de
capitated.
The autom obile, a new one purchased
less than week ago, is said by friends
of Reuben Levine, who was at the
wheel. to have caused him trouble be
cause of his unfamiliarty with the
brake mechanism. Witnesses say the
car stalled when astride the tracks
as train As OF the Putnam division ap-
preached at high speed. When the col
ision occurred the gas tank Of the
automobile exploded The crash and
explosion were heard for more than a
mile.
Engineer Hugh Kirk was unable to
check the speed of his engine until it
had traversed 900 feet after the acci-
dent. The wreckagc of the machine
and two Of the bodies were pinned to
the pilot when the train came to
stand An ambulance was summoned
later arrived from Yonkers Hompopath-
ic Hospital. Or. Joseph Demino, who was
first to arrive, pronounced all the vic
Tins dead.
Tried to Stop Train
According to Engineer Kirk, he blew
his whistle at the usual distance from
the crossing, and at the moment the
automobile appeared on the tracks was
less than 300 feet from it. He was un-
able to control the train in time to
prevent collision, although airbrakes
were instantly applied
The crossing is without gates There
is warning bell, which is declared by
witness to have rung a minute before
the train passed. The engineer was
placed under technical arrest charged
with homicide. He was paroled by Cor
oner Fitzgerald in the custory of Train
master Owen O'Connor.
Both the Levines were married.
Pigot was single and an employee of
the Levine firm. The three men started
on fishing expedition. The car they
occupied was loaded with fishing para
phcrnala, which fact is believed to
have hampered the occupants and to
have prevented their escape from the
machine before it was struck.
Child Killed by Auto
Women tainted and hundreds Of per
sons participated in Il panic stricken
rush when a taXjcab struck and killed
John Kennedy, eight years old. Of 2Sl
Avenue A, while the child was at play
with others in front of 544 East Seven
to oenth Street. Reserve police had diff
Guilty in controlling the crowd.
The taXicab was owned and operated
by Alvin Schultes, Of 544 East Seven
teenth Street, who told the police he
did not see the boy until the instant
he was struck. Schultes was locked up
in East Twenty second Street station
on a technical homicide charge.
-Four were injured when an automo-
bile which appeared to be out of control
struck bus on the Boulevard boundary
line at Bay n. j. Harry Palmer
Of ~ Clark Street, Jersey City, pas
senger in the automobile, which was
driven b. Charles Risley, Of ia Ar
lington Avenue, Jersey City, fell under
the wheels and was internally injured
Miss Elizabeth Frank, of TAO Ocean
Avenue, Jersey City, was crushed be-
tween the cars and severely hurt. Sam
uel Sprague, OF 81 Clark Street, was
injured by being knocked down, as also
was Louis Rogon, Of All Avenue C,
Bayonne. All the injured were taken to
Bayonne Hospital.