Victims of deadly 1938 bus-train crash remembered

A monument is unveiled in South Jordan, Utah, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the accident, in which the bus driver and 23 students were killed after the train struck the bus as it crossed railroad tracks. The accident reportedly led to a nationwide law requiring buses to stop at all railroad crossings so the driver can both look and listen for oncoming trains.

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December 3, 2013

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SOUTH JORDAN, Utah — Survivors of a deadly 1938 school bus-train crash, along with friends and relatives of the victims, gathered here on Monday to witness the unveiling of a new monument to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the accident, Deseret News reports.

On Dec. 1, 1938, a bus carrying 39 students had stopped in front of railroad tracks — the driver had reportedly stopped to look for a train, but a blizzard caused almost zero visibility and prevented the driver from seeing the train that hit the bus as it crossed the tracks. The bus driver and 23 of the students on board were killed.

"It was an awful, awful day," Joyce Holder told the newspaper. "I can remember Mother coming to school to get me out of class and to tell me what had happened. I was devastated.” (Holder’s older sister, Virginia, was one of the students killed in the crash.)

The accident led to a nationwide law requiring buses to stop at all railroad crossings so the driver can both look and listen for oncoming trains, according to Deseret News.

To read the full story, click here.

Topics:fatalities railroad crossing school bus crash Utah Safety

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