NEWSPAPERS: Train-truck accident near Talent, Jackson County, Oregon *************************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES(tm) NOTICE All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with United States Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by noncommercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *************************************************************************** Transcribed and formatted for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Elizabeth Corethers 25 Jan 2003 *************************************************************************** Medford (Oregon) Mail Tribune, Friday, 18 February 1944, p. 1 TWO INJURED AS TRAIN HITS TRUCK NORTH OF TALENT John Ragsdale, Blind Cigar Stand Operator, Sustains Broken Wrist and Leg. John Ragsdale, 40, of Eagle Point, blind operator of a candy and cigar stand in the county courthouse, was severely injured when the truck in which he was a passenger was struck by the northbound Southern Pacific passenger train at the Anderson Creek road crossing just this side of Talent at 6:46 p.m. Thursday. His brother, Glenn Everett Ragsdale, 26, of Trail, driver of the heavy International logging truck and trailer, escaped with face and head lacerations and will be released this evening. Both are confined to Ashland Community hospital, where they were taken in Litwiller's ambulance. John Ragsdale suffered a broken right wrist, a broken lower right leg, contusions of the face and body, and shock. His condition was said by hospital attendants to be serious. X-ray pictures were to be taken when his condition permits. State police, who investigated the accident, quoted two witnesses as saying that the logging truck had crossed the railroad tracks once and was returning eastward to dump its logs at the Talent Sawmill, Inc., adjacent to the tracks when it was struck on the right side near the front wheels. The witnesses, Daniel Boatwright and Vern Decker, both of Talent, told police that the truck driver apparently didn't see the approaching train nor hear its warning whistle. Police said the truck, damage to which was estimated at $1,500, was shoved 42 feet north along the track and that the train was stopped 440 feet from the point of impact. Engineer was F. L. Johnson of Roseburg. J. A. Zimrick of Roseburg, conductor, told police that damage to the locomotive was relatively minor. John Ragsdale had been picked up in Medford by his brother and would have ridden with him to his home in Eagle Point. Medford (Oregon) Mail Tribune, Sunday, 20 Feb 1944, p. 3 JOHN RAGSDALE'S CONDITION GRAVE John Ragsdale, blind, 40-year-old operator of a cigar and candy stand in the county courthouse, was still in a critical condition in Ashland Community hospital last night with injuries he received when the truck he was riding in was struck by a Southern Pacific passenger train at a crossing just this side of Talent Thursday evening. Ragsdale suffered a broken wrist and leg and severe shock and bruises. His brother, Glenn Everett Ragsdale, 26, driver of the truck was discharged from the hospital Friday night. He was not seriously hurt. Medford (Oregon) Mail Tribune, Wednesday, 23 Feb 1944, p. 10 RAGSDALE IMPROVEMENT PERMITS X-RAY PHOTOS The condition of John Ragsdale, blind operator of the courthouse cigar stand, who sustained a broken leg and other injuries in a train-truck crash at a Talent district crossing a week ago, has improved to a point where it is planned to take x-rays of his injuries today, kin reported. He is confined in the Community hospital at Ashland.