Thomas Stachurski

Dec 5, 1919 - Jun 9, 1955

DRIVER KILLED AS AUTO RAMS FREIGHT TRAIN
Fog Blamed; Impact Knocks Rail Car From Tracks

Thomas Stachurski, 35, of 206 S. Meade St., a South Bend Bakery employee, was killed at 3 a.m. today when his automobile slammed into the side of a New York Central System freight train, derailing a railroad car at the Mayflower Rd. crossing, south of the city.

A heavy fog in the area apparently obscured Stachurski's vision, Deputy Sheriffs Walter Phillips and Emery Gulyas reported. They said skid marks on the pavement indicated that Stachurski, going north, did not see the train until just before he hit it.

The auto smashed into the 68th car of the 129 – car train which was traveling westbound about 25 miles an hour after leaving South Bend 10 minutes before. The impact knocked the wheel trucks from underneath the freight car.

Sets Automatic Brakes

The derailing set the automatic brakes on the train, stopping it 1-3/4 miles west of the crossing. The wreckage of the auto, with Stachurski's body trapped in it, was carried with the train until it stopped.

The Mayflower Rd. crossing is not guarded by flasher signals. The train, bound for Kankakee, Ill., on a New York Central branch line, was in charge of G.C. Mayfield, conductor, and C.E. Parmaly, engineer, both of Kankakee. They did not know the train had been hit until the automatic brakes stopped it, they told the deputy sheriffs.

The derailment blocked the branch line until later this morning, when the freight car was removed from the tracks by a wrecker crew.

Coroner Dr. Edward S. Shelley, returning an accidental death verdict, said the victim suffered a crushed head, broken neck and additional multiple fractures and injuries.

Mr. Stachurski was born Dec. 5, 1919, and had lived here all his life. He was employed by the Ward Baking Co. Surviving are his mother, Mrs. Mary Stachurski; the widow, Gertrude; four children, Ronald, Ralph, Daniel and Albert, all at home; and a sister, Mrs. Esther Lyszynski, South Bend.

Mr. Stachurski was a member of the Woodmen of the World and the St. Joseph Young Men's Society of St. Adalbert's Catholic Church.

Source: FindAGrave.com

06/11/2025 EJS