1953 — Oct 9, Car and Motorcycle collide, US 285, 37 miles north of Roswell, NM            —       5

–5  National Safety Council. Accident Facts 1970 Edition. 1970, p. 63.^[1]

–4  Farmington Daily Times, NM. “Six Die on Highways to Boost State’s Toll.” 10-10-1953, p7

Narrative Information

United Press: “Traffic accidents snuffed out the lives of six persons in New Mexico Friday night [Oct 9], with four of the victims killed in a freak motorcycle-car mishap….Four Colorado residents were killed instantly when their speeding 1953-model sedan struck the rear of a slower-moving motorcycle 37 miles north of Roswell and then slammed with tremendous force into a US 285 bridge abutment.^[2] The motorcycle overturned on the other side of the highway and its driver, Leslie H. Baker, 54, of Monroe, La., was reported suffering from shock. Killed in the crash were Charles D. Young, 62, Kenneth W. Cook, 41, Edna W. Byers, 61, and Alice W. Young, 57, all of Colorado Springs. Attendants at St. Mary’s Hospital in Roswell said Virginia Cook, 41, and three-year-old Kenneth W. Cook, II, are in ‘very grave’ condition.”  (Farmington Daily Times, NM. “Six Die on Highways to Boost State’s Toll.” 10-10-1953, p. 7.)

Sources

Clovis News-Journal, NM. “Traffic Death Toll Hits 307.” 10-11-1953, p. 4. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=117143299&sterm

Farmington Daily Times, NM. “Six Die on Highways to Boost State’s Toll.” 10-10-1953, p. 7. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=191777560&sterm

National Safety Council. “Greatest Number of Deaths in a Single Motor-Vehicle Accident.” Accident Facts 1970 Edition. Chicago, IL: NSC, 1970. p. 63.

[1] This was, as of 1970, according to the NSC, the deadliest “passenger car-motorcycle” event in U.S. history. Has the date incorrectly as Oct 19.

[2] Another report stated that the motorcycle was reported to be “traveling without light.” (Clovis News-Journal, NM. “Traffic Death Toll Hits 307.” 10-11-1953, p. 4.)