LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / November 8, 1999

GARYVILLE – An eastbound train struck a northbound car Thursday morning, injuring three people, but causing no fatalities.

A 1985 Ford Tempo with three passengers approached the crossing at Garyville Northern Street and Railroad Avenue and, according to the train’s conductor, J.W. Gunckel of Kenner, stopped ahead of the tracks, moved ontothe tracks and stopped again. The car was struck moments later.Inside Pete’s Body Shop, clerk Julie Szubinski heard a “boom,” and glanced up to see the car airborne.

“I just heard this noise,” she said. “I looked up and it was in the air, thencame down.”She dashed out for a moment, then back to the telephone to call 9-1-1 at 9:55 a.m.Brent Duhon, first on the scene, dashed to aid the wreck victims, comforting them until the momentary arrival of police, fire and ambulance teams. “They were all conscious,” he related.Herman Toups Sr., 78; his daughter-in-law, Judy Toups, 55; and hermother, Bertha Poleto, 81, all of Garyville, were recovered safely from the shredded wreckage and transported to River Parishes Hospital in LaPlace.

Capt. Michael Tregre added later that the whistle had blown, but noted thetwo-lane crossing had only crosshatch signs, but no lights, bells or crossing gates.

Garyville VFD Chief Faron “Slim” Duhe noted all three had to be extracted using the “Jaws of Life” tool to free the accident victims.

Tregre added the train’s engineer, W.B. Moak of McComb, Miss., “was prettyshaken up.”The 110-car train was proceeding at the proper speed of 40-mph, Tregre continued, and it took 33 cars past the impact spot for the train to come to a complete stop.

Return To News Stories