The Argus-Press Dec. 24, 1974
Three Byron Area Persons Injured in Car-Train Accident
Three Byron area resident were injured early this morning in a car-train accident a mile south of Byron.
Injured and being treated at McLaren Hospital in Flint are William and Shirley Oliver of 9255 E. Beard Rd., Byron, and Mamie Letourneau, believed to reside at the same address.
The hospital this morning would not medical condition of the three.
Shiawassee County Sheriff's deputies at the scene of the 5 a. m. accident said the car, eastbound on Beard Road, struck the 25th car from the rear of a 125-car southbound Ann Arbor Railroad freight.
The train crew was unaware of the accident until stopped by police at Whitmore Lake near Ann Arbor.
It is unknown which occupant of the car was the driver.
Deputies speculate that the driver did not see the train at the crossing which is marked only with an unlighted sign. At the time of the accident it was snowing hard and the road was snow covered over ice, they said.
Upon impact with the train, the car was spun onto its side and then flipped upside down in a ditch 42 feet south of the crossing.
Deputies and ambulance crews responding to the scene had to pry car doors open to get at one of the three.
The Byron Ambulance Service and the Durand Volunteer Ambulance rescue unit transported the injured to Flint.
Engineer of the train Kenneth L. Worthington of 732 N. Park St., Owosso.
Investigation of the accident is continuing this morning.
