1926 – July 22, Bus with Brooklyn excursionists overturns 3 times, Sparkill, NY        —     10

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 3-14-2025 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–10  Montana Standard, Butte.  “These Changing Times…July 22, 1926.”  July 22, 1936, p. 4.

–10  NYT. “10 Killed, 39 Hurt as Brooklyn Bus Crashes Near Nyack.” 7-23-1926, p. 1.

Narrative Information

July 23, NYT: “Skidding on a road made slippery by rain, a sightseeing bus returning from Bear Mountain Park with forty-eight Brooklyn excursionists, all women and children, catapulted from a highway on a sharp curve in Sparkill, Rockland County, N.Y., last night. Plunging ahead, the bus turned over three times and crashed into the side of a building, pinning the passengers in the wreckage. Ten persons were killed and thirty-nine others, including the driver, were injured.

“An investigation begun soon after the crash by Coroner J. William Giles resulted in the arrest of the driver, Daniel J. Lastro of 145 West Forty-first Street, at the Nyack Hospital after he had been treated for minor injuries. Lastro was taken to New City, the seat of Rockland County, and held without bail, charged with homicide.

The Dead.

Barth, Mrs. Catherine, 38 years old, 1,866 Stanhope Street.

Billings, Mrs. Emma, 37 years old, 57 Menahan Street.

Reiter, Mrs. Margaret, 37 years old, 6 Crescent Place.

Reiter, Mary, her 12-year-old daughter.

Rnglehart, Mrs., 49 Menehan Street.

Schultze, Mrs. Henry, 40 years old, Myrtle Avenue.

Swenke, Mrs. 411 Grove Street.

Two unidentified women, each about 35 years old.

….

“The accident happened a short distance from the Broadway crossing of the Erie Railroad in the Village of Sparkill, near Nyack, and the crash of the bus against the Clayton store, which was followed by the screams of the injured and dying women and children, aroused the whole town.

“The local fire department was called out to aid in extricating the women and children from the wreckage of the bus and the injured were hurried in commandeered automobiles to the Nyack Hospital in Nyack.

“The excursion was the annual outing of the Menahan Neighbors Association. The association, formerly known as the Hylan Neighbors Association, is composed of persons living in the vicinity of Menahan Street, between Evergreen and Central Avenues, Brooklyn, not far from the home of former Mayor Hylan.

“The bus started about 8:30 o’clock in the morning from in front of 75 Menahan Street. The neighborhood turned out to see the party off. Among those to bid the excursionists good-bye was Mrs. Peter Myer of 75 Menahan Street, who had aided in planning the outing. Mrs. Myer was force to remain at home because of the illness of a grand-daughter.

“The drive to Bear Mountain Park was made without mishap and the excursionists picnicked there throughout the day. When the return trip to Brookly was started about sundown, clouds had begun to gather in the Western sky, threatening rain. The rain, accompanied by thunder and lightning, began to fall as the bus started down a long grade toward the Broadway railroad crossing at Sparkill. About twenty yards beyond the crossing the highway takes a sharp curve to the right.

“The bus gained speed going down the grade and crossing the railroad, according to the driver, the wheels came in contact with the wet rails and the bus skidded. Sliding ahead it got out of his control. He tried to right the bus, but as it reached the curve, it wavered for a moment and then plunged from the roadway.

“Catapulting onward, the but turned over three times. With the occupants screaming in terror, it smashed into the side of the Clayton store, tearing an eight-foot hole in the brick wall.

“The cries of the injured as they struggled to escape from the wreckage and the noise of the crash brought Sparkill townsfolk to the scene on the run. Among the first to arrive was Lieutenant William Sterns of the Sparkill Fire Department. He sent in a hurry call for the firemen and set to work with volunteers to get the injured and dying from the wreckage of the bus. The arrival of the firemen with emergency apparatus aided the rescue work, and it was said that their quick work in lifting a heavy portion of the wreckage off ten women and children probably saved the lives of those persons.

“As fast as the women and children were taken out, they were placed in the commandeered automobiles and started on their way to the Nyack Hospital. The hospital had been informed of the crash and preparations and been made to receive the injured. Although several of the persons taken out of the wreckage were apparently dead by the time they were extricated, all were taken to the Nyack Hospital….” (New York Times. “10 Killed, 39 Hurt as Brooklyn Bus Crashes Near Nyack.” 7-23-1926, pp. 1 and 3.)

Montana Standard, July 22, 1936: “Ten persons killed and more than a score injured as bus overturns near Nyack, N. Y. returning from Bear mountain with a party of Brooklyn excursionists. Nine of the dead were women, and the tenth a 6-year-old child.” (Montana Standard, Butte. “These Changing Times…” 7-22-1936.)

Sources

Montana Standard, Butte. “These Changing Times…July 22, 1926.”  July 22, 1936, p. 4. Accessed at  http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=67081548

New York Times. “10 Killed, 39 Hurt as Brooklyn Bus Crashes Near Nyack.” 7-23-1926, p. 1. Accessed 3-14-2025 at: https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1926/07/23/98493733.html?pageNumber=1