Keosauqua Men Die As Car Collides With "Q" Motor Train

LAZENBY, CAUDILL, BLACKBURN, GRIFFITH

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 4/21/2016 at 04:14:59

**Handwritten: 3 MARCH 1942

Keosauqua Men Die As Car Collides With "Q" Motor Train Near Here

Death Strikes At Rail Crossing

Charles P. Lazenby, 41, automobile dealer and Frank Caudill, 46, car salesman, both of Keosauqua, were killed instantly when their car collided with the motor train of the Burlington K.C. branch at the crossing over Highway No. 2 six miles west of here about 8:20 this morning.

The front of the car struck at the front side of the train. The car was turned around and boosted to the shoulder of the highway but remained upright. The front end of the automobile was demolished.

Caudill, the driver, was crushed to death back of the steering wheel. Lazenby was thrown partly out of the car, his feet on the floor board and his head and shoulders resting on the ground.

A physician who examined the bodies at the scene said that both had died instantly.

The accident was investigated by State Highway Patrolman E.H. Strater and Deputy Sheriff William Soechtig.

On Way Here

The two Keosauqua men were driving east toward Fort Madison and according to investigating officers apparently did not see the approaching train because of the morning sun shining in their faces. The train was traveling west.

Witnesses said the car did not slow down for the crossing and officers could find no tire marks to indicate where the driver might have applied brakes on sensing the danger.

W.E. Bruner of Centerville, the engineer, said he had throttled the train down to about 10 or 15 miles an hour as he approached the crossing and that he had sounded the whistle several times. The train stopped 200 feet down the tracks after the crash.

The conductor of the train was T.B. Sherer of Carrollton, Mo. Other witnesses to the accident were B.A. Wilson, brakeman of Carrollton, and F.L. Lanteisen, baggagman of Carrollton.

Witnesses Crash

Bob Hafner, who was standing about a quarter of a miles away on his farm, told officers he was watching the train, heard the engineer whistling, and saw the crash. He said the car driver did not seem to see the train as he did not change speed as he ran up to the crossing.

A plate was knocked off the cow-catcher on the train but no delay was necessary for repairs.

The bodies were brought to the Clements Funeral home here and later were taken to Keosauqua.

The deaths were the first recorded in Lee county due to traffic accidents for 1942.

Leave Families

Mr. Lazenby had operated a filing station and automobile agency at Keosauqua for more than five years and Mr. Caudill was employed by him as a salesman.

Mr. Lazenby is survived by his wife; one son, Francis; his father, A.F. Lazenby; a brother Dave Lazenby of Keosauqua and two sisters, Mrs. Hazen Blackburn of Keosauqua and Mrs. Roy Griffith of Cantril, Iowa.

Mr. Caudill is survived by his wife and five children. One son is in the service and one of the daughters is grown. The other three are small.

Funeral arrangements had not been made today.
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Caption under picture: Death scene for two Keosauqua men at a rail crossing near here is pictured above. Picture shows where car was turned around and left upright on the road shoulder after it met with the train. Other pictures of accident will be found on page 8.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book F, Page 284, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA

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