Acme News Pictures: Race A Tie, But Train Still Wins
From an Acme News Pictures photo from October 24, 1939:
Los Angeles, Calif. — Frank Carter, 35, of Torrance, Calif, died as a Pacific Electric train plowed into this new (Packard) sedan and Frederick Macintosh, 31 of Los Angeles was held by police on negligent homicide charges as the driver of the car. Macintosh denied, however, that he had been the driver although the car was registered in his name.
Steve Crise Collection
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Any idea what PE line was involved in this accident?
I’ve read that in the 1920’s or so, the increasing number of grade crossing collisions on the PE caused PE to reduce the speed of their trains at crossings. This speed reduction would obviously slow down the overall time on PE trains, making them less and less attractive to passengers. Also, this accident vividly demonstrates that the policy of slowing PE trains was not 100% effective.
Duncan, we have only the information in the photo caption to share at this time. Since neither the PE car or grade crossing is not scene in the photo, it makes it difficult to guess where this may have taken place. Hopefully someone may recall this incident and provide further details.
That was (according to family oral tradition) the same month my mother took photos of a semi-trailer that was totaled by PE combine 1373 at the 5th Ave. crossing on the Monrovia-Arcadia boundary. The tractor got over the crossing, and the driver was not injured, but the trailer was smashed.
I pulled the story from the LA Public Library’s online database of the LA Times. I’d attach it if I knew how (if it’s even possible). Anyway, the accident took place at E. 110th St. and S. Central Avenue according to the article.
Thanks for the information. My satellite map shows 110 St. & Central is close to the Redondo via Watts/Gardena Line. The 1939 date is prior to the abandonment of passenger service on this line.