This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Rodgers, Diffenderffer, Korts, Mahoney, Purcell, Bastien, Matz, Champlin, Yargan Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/CY.2ADI/256 Message Board Post: . . IN TRAIN-TRUCK CRASH ACCIDENT AT COLONIA ROAD INTERSECTION Truck Hurled 40 Feet By Impact of Espee Train At 3 o’clock this afternoon Earl Rodgers was still unconscious and his condition critical, according to the report from St. John’s hospital. Earl H. Rodgers, of 161 North G street, well known chicken rancher, was critically if not fatally injured Sunday afternoon at 6:42 o’clock, when his truck was struck by southbound Southern Pacific train No. 72, known as the “Daylight Limited,” at the Colonia road intersection, near the northern limits of Oxnard. With the track in full sight and clear view on either side of him, and with the locomotive whistling warning him of the approach of the train, Rodgers approaching Oxnard boulevard from Colonia Gardens, drove his truck on the tracks before he seamed to realize danger. Then, in an effort to avert the crash, he cramped the steering wheel to his left, but too late. The locomotive struck the truck with such force as to hurl it some 40-50 feet to the south and east, and turned it three-quarters way around. Rodgers was found pinned underneath the truck. He was unconscious and blood was oozing from various cuts about the face and head. Men from among the crowd that soon gathered lifted the truck and others called an ambulance. S. H. Diffenderffer & Son responding. The injured man was removed to St. John’s hospital and Dr. B. F. Korts was called. Today Rogers was still unconscious. Dr. Korts stated this afternoon that Rodgers suffered concussion of the brain and bad cuts and contusions. He said X-ray pictures had not been taken and the full extent of the injuries could not be determined until Rodgers regained consciousness. Train No. 72 was in charge of Conductor Pat Mahoney with Engineer D. J. Purcell in charge of the engine. Purcell was quoted as saying that he saw the truck approaching the track, that it was moving slowly, and that the whistle was blown. He thought that the driver would stop, of course. Then seeing that he did not stop, he applied the air, but too late to stop. The train was brought to a stop near Magnolia, the next intersection. Mel Bastien of the Railway Express, among the first in the huge crown that gathered after the crash, picked up Rodgers’ watch in the intersection of Magnolia avenue and Oxnard boulevard, some 400 feet from the scene of the acident. The waten case was badly bent, the crystal gone and only the hour hand remaining on the face. This morning Dr. A. L. Matz, near whose animal hospital the accident occurred, picked up Rodgers’ glasses, unbroken, near the accident. “Bud” Yargan and Special Officer George Champlin maintained order among the large crowd of curious spectators that gathered at the scene of the wreck. The identity of Rodgers was not established until he reached St. John’s hospital and after the blood was washed off his face. The truck was registered to Rodgers Bros., 225 F street. OXNARD COURIER Monday May 6, 1935 -Thanks, Charles, for your time and effort