Elmer Hunt (1898 - 1950)

HUNT, MEEKS, BERENDS, DUCKETT, ROSENSTIEL, REDING, OLVER

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 2/20/2023 at 10:29:21

Streamline Hits Car at Crossing; Elmer Hunt Killed
Elmer E. Hunt, 51, of 1265 Twentieth avenue SW was killed almost instantly shortly before 7 a.m. Friday when the automobile was struck by the City of Los Angeles at Wilson Avenue SW and the North Western tracks.

Investigating officers said Hunt's body was thrown out of the car and hurled 112 feet from the point of impact. The automobile, which was struck on the left rear fender, was tossed 44 feet from the crossing. The impact spun the automobile around parallel to the train and Hune apparently was thrown out of the door and against the engine.

First 1950 Fatality
Police in Clinton examined the train at Traffic Captain L. W. Remington's request and reported that Hunt's body struck the second spring on the first truck of the front unit of the engine.

Coroner Robert Brosh reported that Hunt suffered severe lacerations across the top and back of his head and other serious injuries about the upper half of his body. He said he died almost immediately. The death was Cedar Rapids' first traffic fatality of the year.

Train Engineer E. R. Craft of Fulton, ILL., and Conductor W. L. Kennedy of Clinton told traffic officers that the train was running on time. They made no statement as to the train's speed nor did they say when they first say the car.

Enroute to Work
Hunt had just left his home and was enroute to work at the Dearborn Brass Company. He was crossing the tracks to Rockford Road. Officers said he had cleared the first two of the three tracks at that point. The North Western railroad uses left hand traffic and Hunt was crossing the last track when his car was struck. There are no traffic signals at the intersection. A stationary warning sign with reflectors is the only safety precaution. Police and Ambulance Service employees were summoned to the scene by Mrs. Sam Grimm, 2200 Rockford Road SW, who said a girl had appeared at her door and reported the accident.

Mr. Hunt was born Sept 11, 1898, at Pickwick, Ohio, and was married to Marie Meeks July 11, 1940, at Vinton.

Surviving, in addition to his wife, are two stepsons, Robert Berends, at home, and Donald Berends of Cedar Rapids; two stepdaughters, Mrs. Fred Duckett of Stanley and Miss Mildred Rosenstiel of Oelwein; and two sisters, Mrs. John Reding and Mrs. Forest Olver, both of Cedar Rapids.

Mr. Hunt was a member of the Foresters of America and the AFL Machinists union.

Services will be conducted in the Turner Chapel at 1:30 p.m. Monday by the Rev. Frank Ward. Burial will be in Linwood cemetery.
(Source: The Cedar Rapids Gazette, 21 Jan 1950, Saturday, pg. 15)