New Britain herald., 1927-10-10
Three Taken to Hos-
 pital After Gasoline Coach Smashes Auto, Dragging it 100 Feet.
Railroad Committee of Council to Inquire Into Delay in Repair to Broken Gate.

Councilman Thomas B. Fay of the sixth ward in his capacity as chairman of the railroads commit tee of the common council will head a formal investigation into the railroad crash at the Church street railroad crossing last night which sent three men to the New Britain General hospital in a critical con- dtion.
 The city probe has been insu- tuted by Mayor Weld in on effort to determine the circumstances surrounding the accident and to formulate safety measures in avoid ance of similar mishaps in the fu- ture. The mayor has been informed that the handle by which gates are operated was not in working order for a day and a half prior to the crash.
 Mayor Weld will suggest that an order be issued to the New Haven" railroad that the police be inform- ed of similar conditions when they occur in the future and that a po- iceman or two policemen be de- tailed to guard the crossing during the period of repair, the cost of po- licing to be billed against the rail- road.
 Assisting Councilman Fay In the Investigation will be Councilman Frank s. Caldwell, A. J. Olson, John F. Holmberg, C. Adrian Carl son and William w. Greene.
 Fall to Sec Danger Signal
 The men who were injured were Homer and Edward Nadeau. cou- sins, and Silver Roy. The Nadeaus are in New Britain General hos pitai while Roy is at his home under the care of a physician.
 The accident occurred at 7:55 o'clock. The men were going to- wards Main street and seeing the gates up, started across. They appar- ently did not notice Miss Rose Malin- oWslsi, who has been in charge Of the crossing for the past nine years. and who attempted to flag them with a lantern.
 The car was struck by the gasoline coach coming in from Berlin and was carried between 75 and 100 feet along the track, when it was demol- iShed against coal car on a paral- Tel track.
 Thought Homer Was Killed
 The men were thrown out onto the track. Roy, who was the least in jured. managed to struggle 10 his feet and picked Up Edward Nadeau, whom he carried short distance to the street. A passing motorist took both men to the hospital.
 In the meantime other volunteer helpers had carried Homer. uncon- scious, to the side of the railroad, where they laid him on the ground under the impression he was dead. The arrival of the police ambulance and the attempt by policemen to re- move the body of the supposed dead man revealed the fact that Homer also was alive. He was taken to the hospital in the police ambulance, where 1t was feared he and Edward would not live through the night.
 Gate Handle Broken Saturday
 Miss Malinowski told the police the handle on the gates had broken Saturday evening and she was un- men with a lantern, narrowly es- caping being struck as they drove by.
 An investigation of the accident was made this morning by J. E.. Leitch, freight agent, who also has charge of the grade crossings.
 According to MT. Leitch's state ment the men were driving on Church Street in westerly direc- ton. Edward Nadeau and Silver Roy were on the back seat of the car. The car was an open model, with all the curtains on. on account of the rain. Homer was driving.
 As the car reached the crossing the gates were up, the men on the rear seat were engaged in lighting cigars and did not know exactly how the crash happened.
 A break in casting on the gate handle after 6 o'clock Saturday night made one gate useless and Miss Malinowski was Tagging the crossing, using a white light for trains and red light for the street. She saw the men driving onto the track just as train 1942, a gas bus, due here at 7:55 and running on time, also reached the crossing. She screamed and swung her red light bu: was forced to jump out of the way of the car.
 Driven in Front of Coach
 The automobile proceeded across the tracks, making no Attempt to slow up. and drove directly in front of the coach. which was in charge of Engineer Thomas Anderson and Conductor William Callahan.
 The gasoline bus was slightly damaged but not to any material ex- tent.
 Edward and Homer Nadeau were the more seriously injured. Roy had severe cuts on the left side of his face on his nose and the point of his chin His left hand was in.
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