Betty Jean (Sampson) Walker (1940-1962)

SAMPSON, WALKER

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:11

From Nevada Evening Journal January 24, 1962 (page 1)

Headline:
2 Die When Rocket Hits Car at 7th Street

Two young Nevada mothers were killed yesterday afternoon when the Rock Island's speeding Rocket passenger train crashed into their car at a Seventh Street crossing in Nevada.

Dead are Mrs. Robert Walker, 718 C Avenue, driver of the car and passenger Mrs. Bill Hodgson, 1424 M. Both were 21 years old. Mrs. Walker was the mother of three young children and Mrs. Hodgson had one child.

The crash came at 4:03 p.m. as the two young women were headed north from the Walker home to drive to work at Bourns, -- in Ames.

Mrs. Owen Arnett, who lives --- north of track at 409 7th, and she saw Mrs. Walker drive north across the tracks shortly after 4 p.m. She was apparently on her way to pick up her baby sitter and her passenger Mrs. Hodgson.

Mrs. Arnett said she didn't see the car on its southbound trip, but about four o'clock she was standing close to her front window when the train went through. Mrs. Arnett said she heard the crash, took about ---- steps to the window and pieces of the car were still flying through the air.

The Rocket, according to Engineer James Morgan, 60, Des Moines, was traveling about 60 miles an hour when it struck the car.

Morgan hit the brakes on the train but one Nevadan riding on the train related that the train's impact with the car was never felt. Dr. Aubrey Larson, 650 15th St. Place, was returning from Minneapolis on the Rocket. "We just felt a slight forward jolt when they put the brakes on," he said, "and from then on it was a smooth stop." The train stopped about half a mile down the tracks, over the overhead bridge.

Near Intersection

Mrs. Walker's body along with the car's engine, front wheels and hood were found in an area 20 to 50 yards along the north side of the track to the west of the intersection. Mrs. Hodgson's body was carried a quarter of a mile down the tracks on the steep north embankment. The main part of the auto was almost fused to the front of the train and had to be pried off before the train could continue.

Bill Hodgson, who lived with his wife and child at the home of his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Ron Fuller, was at home taking care of the baby when word reached Fuller that there had been an accident.

Robert Walker's contact with the accident was a second tragedy. He returned from his work at Iowa State University at Ames at 5 p.m. and came upon the scene of the accident, just a few yards from his house. A spectator, who didn't know Walker, informed him bluntly about the names of the victims.

*The house in which the Walkers lived at 718 C Avenue, has been the residence of two families that have suffered fatal accidents on the railroad. Three years ago, when Mr. and Mrs. Arthur May lived in the house, May was killed when a train struck his car near Mingo.

*Two other Nevada girls, Violet Hennick and Janice Corbin, escaped death when they went ahead to work in their own car instead of waiting for Mrs. Walker. Apparently Mrs. Walker was late, had gone back home for a moment for something. The two passengers waited for a time and then went ahead. They didn't find out about the accident until a Bourns employee became ill later in the evening, called home and was told of the wreck by her husband.

*A tragic twist to the story was that Mrs. Hodgson was remarried to her husband last Saturday after a separation of some time. They were reunited and remarried in a ceremony at the Methodist Church here by Rev. James Dendler.

Mr. and Mrs. Bill Hodgson have one child, Denise Michele, 22 months old. Mr. and Mrs. Walker had three children Charles Dwayne 4, Wanda Sue who will be 3 next Monday, and Roberta Lynn, 1.

Funeral services for Mrs. Walker will be be at the Memorial Lutheran Church in Nevada Thursday afternoon at 2 p.m. The Rev. Victor Hackbarth will officiate and burial will be in the Iowa Center Cemetery.

Services for Mrs. Hodgson were at the Ryan Funeral Home today (Wednesday) at 3:30 p.m. with the Rev. James Dendler officiating, assisted by Pastor Ernest Lundin of Greenfield. Burial will be in the Nevada Cemetery.