Obituaries:  Ronnie Lynn Dark, 1970, Winn Parish, LA.
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From:  September 24, 1970 Winn Parish Enterprise-News American

La. Tech Student From Dodson Killed By Train

An 18 year old Dodson youth was killed at about 5:25 p.m. Tuesday when he ran
in front of a train near the Louisiana Tech campus in Ruston.

Killed instantly was Ronnie Lynn Dark, only son and child of Mr. and Mrs. J.
L. Dark of Gaars Mill.

Dark, 1 1970 graduate of Dodson High School, with two other Dodson youths,
Gary Gaar and Vernon Shively, was enroute to the Tech football field to play
ball.  They were running up the sharp embankment to cross the track.

Gaar told investigating officers that Dark was running up the embankment with
Shively close behind.  He said that Dark's view to the left was shielded by a
tree and when he ran onto the track, the train whistle sounded, "and he was
swept away".  When the whistle sounded, Shively fell backward down the
embankment.

E. L. Mullins, Sr. of Vicksburg, Miss., was engineer of the Illinois Central
freight.  Officers did not talk with Mulllins because "he was shaken so".

Dark was dragged some 250 feet after being struck by the train, officers said.

Young Dark was the "Most Popular" student in his graduating class at Dodson
and was a well known basketball player.

FUNERAL SERVICES

The remains will be at Edmond's Funeral Home in Jonesboro until time for
funeral services at 2:20 p.m. Thursday.  Services will be held in the
Friendship Baptist Church near Sikes, with the Rev. A. L. Bratton and Rev.
Robert Leach officiating.  Burial will be in the Harmony Grove Cemetery at
Gaars Mill.

The youth is survived by his parents.