Two Big Hooks were called out to move the damaged cars and clear the right of way.
Two Railroad Wreckers Work To Clear Debris
Truck Loaded With Steel Smashes Into Side of Coal Car
Latty – A Bluffton, Ind., trucker was injured when his semi-trailer outfit crashed into a northbound Cincinnati Northern freight train about 12:30 a. m. today at the crossing on state highway 113 in Latty.
Eleven loaded coal cars were derailed by the impact, the track was torn up for more than 150 feet and, with the loss of the truck, estimates as to the property damage range upwards to $75,000.
The injured truck driver is Walter Becraft, 33, of Bluffton, Ind., hauling for Transport Motor Express of Fort Wayne. Becraft is in Paulding Memorial Hospital suffering from a fractured left ankle, body bruises and lacerations. Wreck train crews from Bellefontaine and Toledo are at the scene and Robert Foster, assistant superintendent of the railroad, reported at noon that traffic on the road would be restored to normal by the end of the day.
THERE ARE no gates or flasher lights at the crossing and, according to Sheriff John Keller of Paulding and state highway patrolmen of the Van Wert post, it was very foggy and visibility was poor at the time of the accident.
Becraft was eastbound and, according to railroad officials, his semi-trailer plowed against the 27th car back of the diesel engine. Tree cars overturned, coal was spilled onto the right-of-way and it was necessary to upset several others in clearing the wreckage. Some of the cars had broken trucks.
The semi-trailer was loaded with coiled steel all of which tangled in the wreckage. One side of the trailer was ripped away and the tractor was badly damaged. It was estimated that at least 120 ties would he required to replace the rails.
WRECK AT LATTY, OHIO
January 25, 1956
At approximately 12:30 a.m., an eastbound semi-tractor trailer rig driven by Walter Becraft, plowed into the side of a northbound Cincinnati Northern freight train at the crossing of State Highway 113 in Latty. The semi hit the 27th car in the train and derailed a three of the cars, scattering coal along the right of way, and the wreck tore up some 150 feet of track, and 120 ties would need to be replaced.
There were no flashers or gates at the crossing, and the weather was dark and foggy.
The rig was hauling coiled steel that was scattered among the debris of the derailed cars. Damage to the train and rig was estimated at $75,000.
TRUCK-TRAIN CRASH. The driver of the truck, at left above, escaped with a fractured ankle and bruises when his outfit, loaded with caped with 27,000 pounds of coil steel rod, crashed into the side of a northbound New York Central freight train at Latty shortly after midnight last night. The cargo was spilled on the right-of-way as the side of the truck was torn away. Twelve hopper cars, loaded with coal, piled up and tore out about 125 feet of the main track. The accident occurred at the state route 113 crossing, and witnesses reported a heavy fog in the area. (Staff Photo)