The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-24
lone MAN KILLED
w Hen SOUTHERN
TRAIN HITS TRUCK
Crash Occurs At Crossing
At 18th Avenue And
9th Street !
BLAME is PLACED
ON CROSSING BELL
Nat Beasley Killed, Pat
Carroll And J. "A. Mon
Grief Injured

One man was instantly killed, one
probably fatally injured and a third
more or less seriously injured at &c
o'clock Wednesday afternoon when
west-bound Southern passenger train
No. 10 crashed into a truck at the
Fifteenth avenue and Twenty-seventl
street crossing.
Nat Beasley, 43 years old, the driver
of the truck, was killed when he was
thrown from the seat and dragged
against the signal bell at the crossing
His neck was broken and the skull
fractured.
Pat Carroll, IS years old, had his
right leg 20 badly fractured that doctor:
at the Norwood inirmsry found il
necessary to amputate. 1t is believed
that he has suffered internal injuries
His condition is considered grave.
Riding In Truck
J. A. Moncrief, SO years old, suf
fered an injury Of the right leg and hip
The full extent Of his injuries had not
been determined by attendants at the
Norwood infirmary at late hour
Wednesday.
The men were riding in truck
owned by Beasley, who is engaged in
truck farming and the dairy business
according to Mr.. Monerief, who was
able, to make statement late Wed.
nesday afternoon. He stated that the
three were planning on going out on
the Tarfant City pike but had turned
out at the wrong avenue.
As they approached the crossing
Beasley applied the brakes and looked
for the train. Being unable to see il
on account Of high embankment on
either side started across. They could
not see the train until it was on them
Moncrief stated, adding that they die
not hear the crossing signal which wai
supposed 10 be ringing. 2-+
The track was struck even with
the seat, Reasley WAS thrown. on til,
other side 1f The train aud sfAe&Ad al.
ill knocked loose BIZ the post 81 tn,
signal bell. Carroll, who was riding OF
wagon seat in the back Of the truck
was thrown under the wheels of the
train. Moncrief. who received the full
force of the engine, was wedged in the
truck and dragged approximately SC
feet down the track.
Moneriets statement in regard to
the signal bell was borne out in part
byf Traffic Officer @. A. Vaughn arid
Motor Scout Il. e. McCorkle, who in.
vestigated the accident According to
them, the bell had not worked for a
single train that passed since they had
been ON duty.
A conflicting statement was made
By negro truck driver, who stated
that he was an eyewitness to the &C.
cident. The negro stated that the au.
tomobile was driving in front of him at
a speed of about 10 miles an hour and
went onto the track as the train start
ed over the crossing. According to the
negro the signal bell at the crossing was
ringing in warning of the approach OF
the train.
Several people in the. neighborhood
stated that the bell was unreliable as a
signal, ringing only at times. Several
told Of narrow escapes ON this account
and on account of the high enbank.
ment approaching the crossing. ~
Ambulances from Browns and Johns
removed the injured to the hospital
Beasley is survived by his widow
four daughters. Mrs. A. V. Berkell
Mrs. Robert Eads. Miss Juanita and
Miss Jennette Beasley: Jour sons, Olin
Holbert, Alton and Holt Beasley, and
several brothers and sisters. Funeral
services will be announced later by
Brown