News: Medford - Train-Truck Fatality (1975)

Contact: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
 
Surnames: Jochimsen, Ludwig, Pendergast, Resech

----Source: The Star News (Medford, WI) 05/13/1975

Death notices obtained from the Medford High School, Class of 1963 Index of Kay (Resech) Ludwig.

Train-Truck Crash Kills Area Man

Jerry Ray Jochimsen, 30, town of Deer Creek, was killed instantly Tuesday morning when a pickup truck he was driving was struck by a Soo Line freight train north of Medford. It marked the second highway fatality in Taylor County this year.

The accident occurred at 10:30 o’clock on the country runk M crossing south of Whittlesey where Jochimsen was eastbound when the southbound freight struck the vehicle on the driver’s side. The 1974 Ford pickup was carried a distance of 1,150 feet according to county officials.

Ray Pendergast, Stevens Point, engineer told the investigating officers that the train was traveling at from 30 to 35 miles per hour. The accident reported stated that the vehicle skidded about 140 feet before being struck broadside.

There are neither lighted nor wagging signals at the crossing on the county highway. At a meeting last November of the Taylor county highway safety commission, a project was approved to install automatic signals at that crossing. The project is scheduled for this year.

Note: Obituary for Jerry Ray Jochimsen: http://www.wiclarkcountyhistory.org/index/obits/Obit_JO.htm