1960 — March 1, Train and Oil Tank Truck Collision and Fire, near Bakersfield, CA– 14
–15-30 Nat. Fire Protect. Assoc. Spreadsheet of 10+ Fatality Fires, 3-15-2013, line 291.[1]
— 14 Bakersfield Californian. “Train Crash Cause to Stay Undetermined.” 6-20-1960, p. 31.
— 14 National Fire Protection Association. The 1984 Fire Almanac. 1983, p. 140.
— 14 Oakland Tribune, CA. “Death Toll Rises in Truck-Train Crash.” 3-2-1960.
Narrative Information
March 2: “Bakersfield, March 2 — The death toll rose to 14 today in the thundering crash of the streamlined San Francisco Chief and a giant oil truck. Rescue workers freed two more bodies from the tangled wreckage 15 hours after the disaster. Forty-five others, 14 from the Eastbay, were injured as the train rocketed with a terrifying roar into the truck. The vehicle exploded in flames on impact. The bomb-like blast of the collision rocked the countryside. The truck disintegrated in a ball of fire. Nine cars of the Chicago-bound Chief which left Richmond at 11:59 a.m. yesterday, hurtled off the tracks and lay like twisted tin toys over a field. The screams of the trapped, injured and dying pierced through the steady roar of the flames.
“The dead included ten passengers, three crewmen and the truck driver. The crash occurred at 5:08 p.m. One man was trapped for almost eight hours and was finally brought out alive, but horribly injured.
Mass Of Wreckage.
“The Santa Fe train’s four Diesel engines, two baggage cars and the first three chair cars were tangled together in tragic geometric design.
“Passengers had very little warning of the impending crash. Some felt a slight jar. Others thought they head a whistle and felt the grinding of brakes. One man said he saw the truck approaching the crossing. Then: “The next thing I knew we were going through a blaze of fire,” said passenger Mrs. Lucille Bonette of Kansas City, Mo. This was the rest of the train passing through the flames of the wreckage which had already boomed through the first cars.
“The gleaming streamliner made nine stops after leaving Richmond in the morning. It sped through Bakersfield at about 85 miles an hour.
“The tank truck-trailer carrying 8,000 gallons of fuel oil headed for the Allen Ave. crossing about one-half mile north of the Rosedale Highway. Then: a thundering blast as they collided.
“I was coming out of my barn when I saw a huge flash and flames shooting a hundred feet into the sky,” said farmer Fred Blakely. “A piece of rail came flying through the air.”
“Truck driver John Garrett, 46, of Bakersfield, driving a truck owned by Oglesby Brothers Petroleum Transportation Co., either didn’t see or failed to heed a reflectorized warning sign at the railroad crossing, said investigators. He might have realized, in the final seconds what was happening. Witnesses told the investigators that the truck driver turned his vehicle in a direction parallel to the tracks as the thundering Chief bore down. “It sounded like a sonic boom,” said Blakely. “Clouds of black smoke boiled up. I ran about 300 yards to the passenger car nearest me. Children inside were crying. The passengers broke windows and carried children outside to me.” “It was horrible. Just horrible.” Inside, it was worse. “The train started to twist and jerk and seats flew through the car. Most of us were thrown around like rag dolls …” That’s the way Airman 1/c Donald Sutherland, 25, remembers it….
“The sleek train went for a mile after the crash before it ground and twisted and jerked to an agonizing halt. Six coaches slid into a ditch. All were knocked into grotesque positions.
“Then fire trucks raced to the scene as word of the tragedy was flashed throughout the city of 100,000. All available ambulances sped to the disaster. A call for every doctor and nurse in the area went out. Physicians climbed over and around the wreckage, feeling for pulses that would mean a life spared. Rescue crews rushed cutting torches to the scene to pull out trapped passengers. Cranes and bulldozers rumbled to the wreckage, to gently move it in search for dead and injured…
“Floodlights turned the gathering dark, and later night, into a false day as dozens, then hundreds, gathered at the site of destruction. Police deputies and the highway patrol held back the crowd.
“More than 250 pints of blood were collected and reserved for the injured at Mercy, Kern and Memorial Hospitals in Bakersfield.
“Among the dead were Engineer L. A. Snyder and Fireman A. H. Brawley, both of Fresno.
“Some of the cars were left hanging over a 30-foot embankment. Rescue workers had to climb from below to reach them.
“The scene of carnage was also a scene of wreckage. Huge pieces of steel — both train and truck — were a hundred feet or more from the main bulk of the train….
“Offers of help came from everywhere for the 83 persons aboard the modern streamliner.
It took a dozen fire companies two hours to finally quench the raging flames that followed the roaring crash of train and truck….” (Oakland Tribune, CA. “Death Toll Rises in Truck-Train Crash.” 3-2-1960.)
March 3, UPI: “Bakersfield (UPI) — Twelve hundred feet of ripped up track were replaced and trains today rode smoothly by the charred scene of a spectacular train and fuel oil tanker-truck crash which claimed 14 lives, hospitalized 33, and inflicted minor injuries on 27.
“It was noon yesterday before all of the victims could be identified, nearly 19 hours, after the Tuesday evening collision which showered the 11-car passenger train with flaming oil. The dead included 11 passengers, 2 crewmen and the driver of the double tank truck.
“Investigators said eyewitness reports indicated the driver, John Jarrett, 46, Bakersfield, drove his truck containing 8,000 gallons of high gravity diesel fuel over the lonely grade crossing four miles out of town without stopping.
“The San Francisco to Chicago train was traveling between 75 to 85 miles an hour when it smashed into the truck, exploding the fuel in one tank. The other tank was knocked away and did not explode….” (Bakersfield Californian. “Clear Tracks of Debris Left by Crash.” 3-3-1960, 21.)
March 3: “The crash of the Santa Fe Chief took the life of one of the San Joaquin Valley’s most distinguished medical scientists. Dr; Marshall J. Fiese, 43, director of health services at Fresno State College and prominent among. scientists combating valley fever, died in the fiery truck-train crash….” (Bakersfield Californian. “Valley Scientist Was Victim of Kern Train Wreck.” 3-3-1960, p. 21.)
March 3: “The names of three previously unidentified victims of Tuesday’s fiery collision between the Santa Fe Chief and a truck and trailer loaded with fuel oil were announced today by Dep. Coroner Richard; Gervais. The crash victims were:
Mrs. Rosalee Washington, 54, 656 North/Ridge Rd., San Francisco….
S/Sgt. Patrick Brennan, about 58, a serviceman….
Mrs. Lilly Garner, 51, 1376 Innes Ave., San Francisco….” (Bakersfield Californian. “Victims of Crash Identified.” 3-3-1960, p. 21.)
March 3, UPI: “Fresno (UPI) — Back in 1922, Mrs. L. A. Snyder was the wife of Joseph C. Waugh, a fireman on the Santa Fe passenger train “The Missionary.” On Dec. 2 of that year the train hit an open switch two miles west of Bakersfield and Waugh was fatally scalded by steam. The widow married another railroad man, engineer L. A. Snyder. Monday night Snyder was cremated at the controls of Santa Fe “San Francisco Chief” when the streamliner collided with a truck tanker loaded with fuel-oil. The accident happened four miles west of Bakersfield.” (Bakersfield Californian. “Widowed Twice by Rails Here.” 3-3-1960, p. 21.)
March 3: “….Of the 63 injured, 38 were still in three Bakersfield hospitals today. Listed in critical condition are: John E. Horst,[2] 57, Richmond, brakesman on the Chief; Mercy Hospital. Thelma Murray, Fresno, PBX operator for Santa Fe; Kern General Hospital.” (Bakersfield Californian. “Wreck Victims Added to Kern Traffic Toll.” 3-3-1960, p. 21.)
March 5: “A legislative committee plans a probe of oil tank truck accidents following the blazing truck-train crash near Bakersfield which killed 14 persons and injured 63 others. “Loopholes in existing laws have created many problems in this field of safety,” said Chairman Lee M. Backstrand (R-Riverside) of the Assembly Transportation and Commerce Committee. He ordered the investigation yesterday, saying, “we are not interested in a witch hunt, but in a factual study that will enable the Legislature to insure adequate safeguards in the transportation of flammable and corrosive liquid,” the Associated Press reports from Sacramento.” (Bakersfield Californian. “Committee Plans Oil Tank Truck Accident Probe.” 3-5-1960, p. 20.)
March 7: “Coroner Stanley Newman has scheduled an inquest for 9:30 a.m. Thursday to take testimony concerning the tragic accident involving Santa Fe’s San Francisco Chief and an oil tanker truck that took 14 lives last Tuesday evening, west of Bakersfield. Newman said a nine-member coroner’s jury will be selected to weigh testimony and determine whether there was criminal negligence involved. The hearing will be held in a vacant Superior Court department which has more spectator seating facilities than the coroner’s hearing room. Newman said he would confer today with Capt. James Bryant, commander of Kern’s highway patrol unit, concerning selection of witnesses.” (Bakersfield Californian. “Coroner to Hold Inquest Thursday in Kern Disaster.” 3-7-1960, p. 27.)
March 10: “A $372,000 wrongful death and property damage suit has been filed against Santa Fe Railroad in connection with the fiery crash between the San Francisco Chief and an oil truck tanker March 1 that took the lives of 14 persons and injured 60 others. The suit was filed in Kern County Superior Court yesterday by Atty. S. B. Gill on behalf of Mrs. John Garrett, her 11-year-old son Howard, and Oglesby Bros. Petroleum Transportation. Mrs. Garrett’s husband was the driver of the Oglesby Company truck which was struck at the Allen Road crossing, seven miles northwest of Bakersfield. Garrett was killed outright. Mrs. Garrett seeks $350,000 for the loss of her husband, alleging negligence on the part of the railroad company in operation of the train and maintenance of its tracks. Garrett’s employers, Jack H. and Leon B. Oglesby, joined in the complaint, seeking $22,000 for the loss of their tanker truck and its 7,500-gallon cargo of high gravity crude oil.
“Earlier this week, Santa Fe filed a $2 million suit against the Bakersfield trucking firm, alleging
negligence on the part of the truck driver.” (Bakersfield Californian. “Widow of Truck Driver Sues Santa Fe in Death.” 3-10-1960, p. 28.)
March 29: “A passenger aboard the Santa Fe’s San Francisco Chief when it collided with an oil tanker truck west of Bakersfield March 1, killing 14 persons, has filed a $50,000 suit against the railroad and the trucking company. The suit was filed in Superior Court today by Atty. Morris B. Chain on behalf of the plaintiff, Archie Flemons. Defendants named with Santa Fe are Jack and Leon Oglesby, owners of Oglesby Brothers Petroleum Transportation, whose truck was involved in the crossing crash. Their driver, John Garrett, was one of the 14 fatalities. Flemons, 32, suffered leg injuries in the crash and was confined in a Bakersfield hospital for two weeks, then released to return to his Arizona home.” (Bakersfield Californian. “$50,000 Suit Filed by Rider in SF Wreck.” 3-29-1960, p. 33.)
April 15: “A passenger aboard the Santa Fe’s San Francisco Chief when it collided with an oil tanker truck west of Bakersfield March 1, killing 14 persons, has filed a $25,000 suit against the trucking company. The action was filed in Superior Court yesterday by a Kensington law firm on behalf of Toki Sato. The plaintiff asks damages for back and other alleged injuries. Named as defendants are Jack and Leon Oglesby, owners of Oglesby Brothers Petroleum Transportation, whose truck was involved in the crossing crash. Their driver, John Garrett, was one of the 14 fatalities.” (Bakersfield Californian. “Train Crash Suit Names Truck Firm.” 4-15-1960, p. 20.)
June 2: “The widow [Mrs. Evelyn Snyder] and surviving daughter [Patricia Snyder] of a Santa Fe locomotive engineer killed in the disastrous truck-train crash west of Bakersfield in March have filed a joint suit in Superior Court, seeking a total of $180,000 in damages. Fresno engineer Lanson A. Snyder Jr., 67, was identified in the complaint as the operator of the San Francisco Chief when it crashed into a tanker truck loaded with oil. Snyder and 13 others died….” (Bakersfield Californian. “Suit Filed Over Death of Engineer.” 6-2-1960, p. 47.)
June 17: “The Bakersfield Californian today was winner of the annual award of the Associated Press News Executives Council given for “outstanding photo co-operation.” The award was based on the coverage of the flaming crash March 1 between the San Francisco Chief and a Bakersfield oil tanker in which 14 persons were killed and 63 injured.” (Bakersfield Californian. “Californian Wins AP Award for Covering Train Disaster.” 6-17-1960, p. 21.)
June 20: “The exact cause of the March 1 collision between the Santa Fe San Francisco Chief and an oil tank truck was listed as undetermined today, in a ruling from the Interstate Commerce Commission, issued in Washington. Fourteen persons were killed and 72 injured when the passenger train crashed into the load of highly inflammable oil at the Hageman crossing, west of Bakersfield as the Chief approached Bakersfield. The ICC accident report said eyewitnesses gave varying accounts of the crash, but they all agreed that the truck started across the track after the east-bound train came into clear sight The death of the truck driver, the report said, made determination of an exact cause of the accident impossible.” (Bakersfield Californian. “Train Crash Cause to Stay Undetermined.” 6-20-1960, p. 31.)
Sources
Bakersfield Californian. “$50,000 Suit Filed by Rider in SF Wreck.” 3-29-1960, p. 33. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=154169282&sterm=bakersfield+san
Bakersfield Californian. “Californian Wins AP Award for Covering Train Disaster.” 6-17-1960, p. 21. At: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=154172383&sterm=bakersfield
Bakersfield Californian. “Clear Tracks of Debris Left by Crash.” 3-3-1960, p. 21. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=154168306&sterm=bakersfield+san
Bakersfield Californian. “Committee Plans Oil Tank Truck Accident Probe.” 3-5-1960, p. 20. At: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=154168390&sterm=bakersfield+san
Bakersfield Californian. “Coroner to Hold Inquest Thursday in Kern Disaster.” 3-7-1960, p. 27.
At: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=154168424&sterm=bakersfield+san
Bakersfield Californian. “He Beat Death. Railroadman Returns Home.” 6-20-1960, p. 31. At: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=154172455&sterm=bakersfield+san
Bakersfield Californian. “Suit Filed Over Death of Engineer.” 6-2-1960, p. 47. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=154171785&sterm=bakersfield+san
Bakersfield Californian. “Train Crash Cause to Stay Undetermined.” 6-20-1960, p. 31. At: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=154172455&sterm=bakersfield+san
Bakersfield Californian. “Train Crash Suit Names Truck Firm.” 4-15-1960, p. 20. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=154169986&sterm=bakersfield+san
Bakersfield Californian. “Valley Scientist Was Victim of Kern Train Wreck.” 3-3-1960, p. 21. At: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=154168306&sterm=bakersfield+san
Bakersfield Californian. “Victims of Crash Identified.” 3-3-1960, pp. 21-22. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=154168306&sterm=bakersfield+san
Bakersfield Californian. “Widow of Truck Driver Sues Santa Fe in Death.” 3-10-1960, p. 28. At: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=154168561&sterm=bakersfield+san
Bakersfield Californian. “Widowed Twice by Rails Here.” 3-3-1960, p. 21. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=154168306&sterm=bakersfield+san
Bakersfield Californian. “Wreck Victims Added to Kern Traffic Toll.” 3-3-1960, p. 21. At: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=154168306&sterm=bakersfield+san
National Fire Protection Association. Spreadsheet of 10+ Fatality Fires, as of 3-15-2013. Email attachment to Wayne Blanchard.
National Fire Protection Association. The 1984 Fire Almanac. Quincy, MA: NFPA, 1983.
Oakland Tribune, CA. “Death Toll Rises in Truck-Train Crash.” 3-2-1960. Accessed 12-11-2012: http://www3.gendisasters.com/california/6019/bakersfield-ca-streamline-train-hits-oil-tank-truck-mar-1960
[1] I am not sure what this figure is meant to signify, though it appears in the fatality column. We have gone through the Bakersfield Californian newspaper up through June 20th, when a story noting an ICC report had not identified the cause of the collision. This article, as well as another on the same page, notes there were 14 deaths.
[2] A June 20 article notes that he was the last of the injured to be discharged from the hospital – 3½ months later. Also notes “Horst was the first victim to arrive at Mercy Hospital from the wreck that killed 14…” (Bakersfield Californian. “He Beat Death. Railroadman Returns Home.” 6-20-1960, p. 31.)