1934 — July 22, Bus with defective brakes runs off road, Burns, Ossining, NY –19-20
–19-20 Blanchard estimated range.[1]
–21 Marchant, R. “70 years ago to the day in Ossining NY.” Journal News, NY, 7-22-2004.
–20 Brooklyn Daily Eagle, “Jury Frees 3 in Bus Crash That Killed 20.” 10-19-1935, p. 1.
–20 Herald Statesman, Yonkers NY. “Bus Official Freed on Bail in Crash Case.” 3-25-1935, p4
–20 Kingston Daily Freeman, NY. “Extra Session Worth Cost to the Taxpayers…” 8-20-1934, 1.
–20 Middletown Times Herald, NY. “Speedier…Motorcars Increase Accidents…” 9-4-1934, 2.
–19 Citizen-Advertiser, Auburn, NY. “Says Death Bus Carried False Plates.” 8-2-1934, p. 8.
–19 Daily Messenger, Canandaigua, NY. “Harnett Recommends Regulation.” 7-28-1934, p. 1.
–19 Dunkirk Evening Observer, NY. “Sift Charges of Witness in Bus Accident…” 10-9-1934, 8
–19 Kingston Daily Freeman, NY. “Movement…Police Powers to…Inspectors.” 7-26-1934, 1
–19 Kingston Daily Freeman, NY. “Resume Hearing in Bus Disaster.” 8-1-1934, p. 1.
–19 Middletown Times Herald, NY. “Drive on Buses Halts Machines…” 7-30-1934, p. 12.
–19 National Fire Protection Assoc. Spreadsheet on Large Loss of Life Fires (as of Feb 2003).
–19 Ogden Standard-Examiner (UT). “Other Major Bus Crashes,” December 2, 1938, p. 7-A.
–19 Ossining Historical Society Museum. “1934 Bus Accident in Ossining.” 7-20-2013 Facebook.
–19 Salamanca Republican-Press, NY. “Mechanic Testifies Bus…False Plates.” 8-3-1934, p.1
–19 Syracuse Herald, NY. “Defendant in Bus Death Case Breaks…on Stand.” 10-6-1934, 1.
–18 Syracuse Herald, NY. “Indictments are Sought in Bus Tragedy.” 7-24-1934, p. 1.
–18 Syracuse Herald, NY. “Bus Tragedy Inquiry Asked in Legislature.” 7-25-1934, p. 12.
Narrative Information
July 23: “Ossining, N.Y., July 23 (AP) — Sudden and horrible death which rode to Sing Sing yesterday with…[number unclear, looks like 280] merrymakers of a Brooklyn young folks Democratic outing was under investigation today, with criminal prosecution probable for those responsible for the fatal burning of 15 persons and searing injury of 23 others in a plunging bus.
“Medical examiner Amos O. Squire continued at Ossining police headquarters and Ossining Hospital questioning survivors who escaped from an old New Jersey bus that careened down Main street hill with slipping brakes, shot up the ramp across the New York Central tracks to the station plaza, and plunged off 30 feet into a lumber yard.
“Gasoline blazed, trapping 40 men, women and children inside the bus, and set fire to the Washburne & Todd Lumber and Coal Company, destroying two blocks of waterfront property at a loss of $250,000.
“District Attorney Frank H. Coyne joined the medical examiner in the inquiry, seized four of the seven busses which had transported members of a baseball club that was to play the prison team with their relatives and friends, called them ‘junk’ and ‘death contraptions,’ and set about locating the owners and operators. The bus driver, who perished in the flames, was hired in Brooklyn for the day to drive the unfamiliar bus which Dr. Squire said he had learned was 10 years old.
List of Known Dead…all of Brooklyn [16]:
Frank Imperato, 28, driver of the ill-fated bus…
Mrs. Rose Thompson…
Mrs. William Hayes… [Died in hospital.][2]
Mr. Joseph McDonald…
Mrs. Joseph [Catherine] McDonald…
Bernadette McDonald, 12, their daughter.
Mrs. John McNicholas…
Jon [or John] McNicholas, Jr., 25, her son… [Died in hospital.][3]
Joseph Meaney…
Abraham Galier… [or Geller; died in hospital][4]
. (UP, July 23 (Times Evening Herald, Olean NY)]
John Reitmeyer…
Five unidentified, believed to include
Mrs. Gailer; [Identified as fatality (UP, July 23 (Times Evening Herald, Olean NY)]
Mr. James Murray… [Identified as fatality (UP, July 23 (Times Evening Herald, Olean NY)]
Mrs. James Murray…[Identified as fatality (UP, July 23 (Times Evening Herald, Olean NY)]
Arthur Luff [Identified as a fatality (UP, July 23 (Times Evening Herald, Olean NY)]
[Sister of Joseph Meany; (United Press, July 23, Times Evening Herald, Olean, NY.)]
Critically burned:
Thomas McGuire, Sr. …
Daniel McCann….”
[On July 24. 18th body recovered (from Hudson River at foot of hill where crash occurred.)][5]
(Kingston Daily Freeman, NY. “District Attorney States Bus Which Carried 16 Persons to Their Deaths Was ‘Junk” and “Death Contraption. Criminal Prosecution is Probable for Those Responsible for Deaths. 21 Others Burned.” 7-23-1934, p. 1.)
July 24: “White Plains, July 24 (AP). – District Attorney Frank H. Coyne announced today that indictment of ‘several persons’ on charges of manslaughter will be asked of the Westchester County Grand Jury tomorrow as an outgrowth of the outing bus crash which cost 16 lives Sunday.
“White Plains, July 24 (UP). – State, county and city officials met with Motor Vehicle Commissioner Charles A. Harnett today to decide what official action would be taken in Sunday’s bus tragedy in which almost a score were killed and many injured.
“As Ossining police dragged a lumber yard slip near the scene of the tragedy, from which the body of the 18th known victim was recovered today, the commissioners conferred secretly with Westchester County Medical Examiner Amos O. Squire, District Attorney Frank H. Coyne and Capt. Charles Kemmler of the State police. All of the conference participants declined to discuss possible action against the bus company. Inquest conducted by Squire yesterday developed that the bus, nine years old, had careened madly down an Ossining hill and through a viaduct.
“Witnesses testified that the frantic efforts of the driver, Frank Incarnato, to halt the wild ride were futile. Neither his foot nor hand brakes were in working order.” (Syracuse Herald, NY. “Indictments are Sought in Bus Tragedy…Deaths of 18…All Brakes Out of Order in Ossining Accident, Witnesses Say.” 7-24-1934, p. 1.)
July 25: “A legislative investigation of the bus crash at Ossining Sunday which cost 18 lives was proposed today by Senator George Blumberg, Brooklyn Republican. Blumberg introduced a resolution proposing the appointment of three Senators and four Assemblymen. If the resolution is adopted, this joint committee will be directed:
- To investigate causes of the accident, and determine the persons, firms or corporations involved.
- To investigate the failure of any public officials to perform their duty.
- To recommend any legislation to prevent such tragedies in the future.
- Curb the speed of buses and heavy trucks.
- Increase the insurance on every bus passenger’s life to $5,000. At present the total insurance on all passengers in each bus is $5,000.
- Require all buses in undergo inspection by the Public Service Commission and New York City Transit Commission at least three times a year.
- Reduce the weight of heavy trucks and buses.