Breckenridge, Edward Alex – 1932-1960

BRECKENRIDGE, DORHER, STEVENSON, THOMAS

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 7/13/2021 at 21:35:35

Colfax Man Killed When Train Hits Truck
Edward Breckenridge Died In Crossing Mishap Tuesday
Edward Alex Breckenridge of rural Colfax, was fatally injured Tuesday afternoon about 2:15, when the gravel truck he was driving, was struck by a Rock Island passenger train at the crossing in this city.
Breckenridge, 28, was headed north toward the Van Dusseldorp Sand & Gravel Co. when the accident occurred. The cab of the truck was thrown about 50 feet and landed on the north side of the tracks east of the crossing. The impact severed the cab and truck bed, the latter being hurled approximately 200 feet down the track by the train, which allegedly travels through here at close to 70 miles per hour.
Parts of the truck were scattered along both sides of the railroad right-of-way east of the crossing for several hundred feet.
At the time of the impact, Breckenridge was thrown from the cab of the truck. He was rushed by the emergency unit of the Colfax Fire department to the Skiff hospital in Newton, where he died about an hour later.
He had returned to work Monday, following an accident in which he had been injured by a falling bucket on a front end loader.
The train was halted just east of the city, where the entire rear axle of the truck was caught under the engine. Torches and heavy chains were used to remove the axle, and the train proceeded on its way after a delay of over an hour.
Mr. Breckenridge is survived by his wife, Colleen, parents, Mr. and Mrs. William T. Breckenridge of Newton, two brothers, Thomas L. and William H., both of Newton and a sister, Mrs. David Dorher of Newton. His grandmother, Mrs. E. C. Stevenson lives in Colfax.
He was born January 22, 1932 in this city and saw service with the Armed Forces in Iceland. He was married to Colleen Thomas, April 20, 1958 in Colfax.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 Friday afternoon at the Colfax Methodist church, with Rev. E. Harold Jackson, pastor, officiating.
Burial will be in the Colfax Cemetery.
Source: Colfax Tribune; Thursday December 15, 1960