Obituaries:  Billy C. Leslie, Sabine Parish       L-240
Source:  Sabine Index, Many, La., Jan 6, 1967
Submitted by: Carl Dilbeck
              carlrad@earthlink.net


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Billy C. Leslie

  Billy C. Leslie, 24, of Many, died instantly, Wednesday, about
4:05 p.m., when the car he was driving was hit by Kansas City
Southern Passenger Train No. 15, near Vancouver Plywood Co. at
Florien.

  State Police Sgt. Charles Russell, who investigated the
accident, said young Leslie apparently drove onto the railroad
track without seeing the train. Log trucks were parked along the
highway, blocking Leslie's vision of the oncoming train, but
witnesses said he did not stop upon approaching the railroad
tracks.

  Engineer on the train, which was going to Port Arthur, Tex., was
D. J. Robertson of Leesville. The fireman was N. W. Oakes of
Shreveport. Robertson told Sgt. Russell that he was blowing the
train's whistle, but that he didn't have time to stop.

  Robertson estimated the train's speed at 55 miles per hour.

  Leslie's car was knocked 100 feet down the track from the point
of contact. His battered body was thrown approximately 50 feet
farther along the side of the railroad track. The motor was
knocked about 100 feet out of the car, and onto a bank of the
railroad right-of-way.

  Leslie had just gotten off work at Vancouver Plywood Co., prior
to the accident. He had left the parking lot a few hundred feet
from the railway track, and was traveling east. He apparently
wasn't traveling very fast.

  Rufus Corley, a guard for Vancouver, was on duty in the guard
house, and witnessed the accident.

  Said Corley, "He had just gotten off work and got in his car,
driving off the parking lot. He was by himself. The log trucks
had his view of the train blocked, but the train was blowing it's
whistle. He drove right into the path of the train. He didn't
even stop. I don't suppose he saw the train."

  Deputy Coroner, Dr. Fred Thomas, was called to the scene of the
accident, and said Leslie died instantly. Death was attributed to
head injuries.

  Funeral services will be held Friday, Jan. 6, at 10 a.m., in the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, with the Rev. Lynn
Hawkins, and Elder Glen Hardy officiating. Burial will be under
the direction of Warren Meadows Funeral Home.

  Survivors include his wife, Linda Leslie of Many; one daughter,
Laura Denise of Many; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Leslie of
Many; and two brother, Dan, and Jim Leslie, both of Many.

  Pallbearers will be John Hurst, Carl Pilcher, Donald Wayne
Funderburk, Glen Hardy, Donald Murphy, Floyd Tarpley, Gene
Walker, and Michael Slay.