OBIT: Mary KOCH, 1930/1931, Somerset, Somerset County, PA File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library. Transcribed and proofread by: Richard Boyer. Copyright 2011. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/ _________________________________________ MARY KOCH Two Dead and One is Injured As the Result of a Crash on Grade Railroad Crossing Near Somerset Two persons were killed and one seriously injured at 1:45 o'clock New Year's morning when a small coupe in which they were riding crashed into a freight train on the grade crossing in the vicinity of the Ogline feed mill along the Stoyestown-Somerset highway, where the freight train had come to a stop. The dead are: Wilbur Edwards, aged 24, of Johnstown, driver of the coupe, killed instantly. Mrs. Milton Koch, aged 34, of Somerset, died four hours after the accident in the Somerset Community Hospital. Lee Bishop, aged 36, of Johnstown, brother-in-law of Mrs. Koch, is in a serious condition at the Somerset Hospital. Wilbur Edwards was employed at the Barron Coal Company mine near Listie, where Milton Koch is Superintendent. The accident occurred as Edwards, Bishop and Mrs. Koch were returning to the Koch home in Somerset from Listie, where they had gone for Mr. Koch. The latter had spent Wednesday evening at Listie and when he had not returned at 1 o'clock the trio went to Listie for him. In the meantime Mr. Koch had returned to Somerset and had passed the car in which his wife and the other two men were going to Listie, but was unable to recognize them because of a blinding snowstorm. The highway makes a dip at the crossing where the accident occurred and it is believed that Edwards descended the short grade at a high rate of speed and did not see the train on account of the blinding snow storm, or was traveling at such a speed that he was unable to avoid the accident. The coupe crashed into the 22nd car of the freight train, which was in charge of Engineer A. G. Watson, Fireman C. F. Malloy and Conductor W. U. Sellers, all of Connellsville. Hearing the crash, members of the train crew investigated and found the body of Edwards crushed between the smashed coupe and the railroad car. Clyde Hemminger, of Friedens, arrived at the crossing about the time of the accident and summoned an ambulance from Somerset. All of the injured were rushed to the Community Hospital, but Edwards was dead when admitted. Bishop and Mrs. Koch were partly thrown clear of the wreckage. Edwards suffered a fracture of the skull and a broken neck. Mrs. Koch suffered a fracture of the skull, the right side of her head being badly crushed; a fracture of the right leg; a dislocated left hip and deep lacerations of the right hip and lacerations of the face and body. She was unconscious when admitted to the hospital and passed away at 6 o'clock Thursday morning without regaining consciousness. Bishop suffered a fracture of the left femur, contusions and lacerations of the head and body and is suffering from shock. His condition is serious. Meyersdale Republican, January 1, 1931