Details of Railway Accidents in the Ottawa Area

1937, August 31 - Crossing collision, Pembroke, CPR., Chalk River sub., four injured

Ottawa Citizen 1 September 1937 Four Persons Hurt In Crossing Crash East of Pembroke PEMBROKE, Ont Aug. 31 Four members of a Pittsburgh party are in the General Hospital here with injuries received this afternoon when their car crashed into the C.P.R. Pembroke-Ottawa passenger train at a level crossing on highway 17 five miles east of Pembroke. The injured are Charles Puhl, 43; his mother, Mrs. Mary E. Puhl 64: Mrs. Annie Brown,-55, and her daughter. Miss Elizabeth Brown, 30. The most seriously injured is Mrs. Brown, who has a fractured back, while her left arm is broken above the elbow. She will be in the hospital for three months. Dr.  W. W. D. Williams, who is attending her, stated. Mr. Puhl received a gash on his knee, while his mother also received bruises about the left knee and shock. Miss Brown has a badly lacerated forehead which required several stitches. Miss Brown was attended by Dr. F. J. Dodd, while Dr. Williams attended the other three. Did Not See Train The party was travelling west and Mr. Puhl stated that he did not see the train coming from the west until he was only a few feet from it. The highway crosses the railway at an angle and there is a crossing sign 300 feet back, but the small government road station about 100 feet north of the crossing might obstruct the view of a person unfamiliar with the road. Mr. Puhl said he was driving about 25 miles an hour and when he saw the train he applied his brakes. The car skidded and struck the engine, after which it turned in a circle and came to rest upright on the shoulder of the road. Miss Brown was thrown from the car, but the other occupants remained in the machine. A passing motorist brought the injured people to the hospital but disappeared immediately afterwards without giving his name. The train. No, 558, was in charge of Conductor A. Hydman and Engineer M. Hussey, both of Ottawa. The accident was investigated by Traffic Officer L. MacGillivray of Renfrew.

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Updated 21 September 2020