In 1949, a new "three lane highway connecting Bloomsburg to Briar Creek", route 11, was being constructed, alongside the railroad tracks. On June 7th, one of the construction trucks was on the tracks when Locomotive 1199 of the Delaware Lackawanna & Western came through. The locomotive, tender, and five cars collided with the construction truck.
Henry Calvin Kummerer, the driver of the construction truck, was knocked from the cab and was found lying alongside the tracks. He was taken to Berwick hospital, where he made a full recovery.
Photo showing the construction of Route 11 off to the right.
2 Crew Members of Lackawanna Passenger Train Hurt Slightly in Derailment After Collision
A truck driver whose vehicle was struck yesterday morning by a DL&aW Sunbury-to-Scranton passenger train at a grade crossing near Almedia remained in critical condition last night in Berwick Hospital.
The accident occurred at 9 a.m. when the truck was driven in front of the train, which was derailed by the impact.
The engine and tender turned over on their sides.
In critical condition is Henry C. Kummerer, 30, of 135 North Fourth , Street Hamburg, Berks County, lie suffered compound fractures of the left leg and a possible skull fracture.
The crossing at which the collision occurred is four miles north of Bloomsburg;
Frank Biezup, 84 Center Street, Kingston, railroad fireman, suffered contusions of the left leg. Engineer Everett R. Marley, Trucksville, was slightly bruised, and Patrick Moran, conductor, Scranton, escaped injury.
Kummerer is employed by the Livengood Construction Company, which: is constructing a three-lane highway near the grade crossing. The body of the truck was knocked high into the air,- but the cab remained almost at the exact spot .
Kummerer - was knocked from the cab and was found lying alongside the tracks.
Investigators said it was believed the engine carried the axle of the truck about 150 yards up the track until 'a piece of rubber attached to the wreckage jammed into a switch, derailing the engine's pony wheels.
DL&W officials last night said the engine had been returned to the track, and. that three baggage cars, also derailed, were - being placed back into position. routed over the Pennsylvania tracks to by-pass the single track section 'where the accident occurred. The damaged engine-was brought to Kingston yards and will be taken today to Scranton.
The Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western Railroad Company filed a $9,333.93 "trespass action" against Mahlon Livengood, contractor for the three lane highway between Bloomsburg and Briar Creek, and against Claude Reppert, a sub contractor, as a result of a truck train collision in South Center township, Columbia County, on June 7th. Operator of the machine at the time of collision was Henry Calvin Kemmerer, who was seriously injured but recovered.
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