Chicago, Illinois

Commuter Train Wreck

October 30, 1972

2 Trains Crash In Chicago; 25 Killed

CHICAGO (AP) – Twentyfive persons were killed today in the rear-end crash of two commuter trains on Chicago's South Side during the morning rush-hour.
More that 100 persons were hospitalized with injuries.

Mercy Hospital, which treated about 110 persons for injuries, said 15 persons were pronounced dead on arrival. Cook County Hospital, Michael Reese and Billings Hospital also reported deaths.

Firemen rushed to the crash site, less than 10 minutes from the main downtown terminal, and worked to free passengers trapped in the wreckage.

The rear-end crash occurred about 7:40 a. m. near the 27th Street platform on Chicago's South Side, the railroad spokesman said.

He said both trains left a Far South Side terminal nine minutes apart.
The IC Gulf Railroad transports about 35,000 commuters daily between the city and suburbs to the south.

The Kokomo Tribune Indiana 1972-10-30

Probe Strength of Cars

Chicago Train Wreck Death Toll Is 44; 300 Are Hurt

CHICAGO (AP) – Federal safety officials investigating the commuter train collision which killed 44 persons raised questions today about the strength of the lightweight steel cars used by commuter lines.

In addition to the dead, more than 300 were reported injured Monday when an Illinois Central Gulf Railroad commuter backing into a South Side station was rammed by a second IC electric commuter during the morning rush hours.

Transportation Secretary JOHN VOLPE inspected the wreckage in a 40-minute tour. He and HENDY WAKELAND, director of the department's Bureau of Transportation Safety, said the strength of the lightweight steel and aluminum cars would be studied.

It took six hours to extricate the last of the dead and injured from the crumpled wreckage of two of the cars, which were crushed like empty beer cans.
President NIXON expressed his sorrow and canceled plans for a downtown campaign motorcade scheduled for today in Chicago.

Sen. GEORGE McGOVERN, campaigning in Pittsburgh, called off a torchlight parade scheduled for Wednesday in Chicago.

VOLPE headed a federal investigation team dispatched from Washington to study the collision, the nation's worst rail disaster since 1958 when 48 persons were killed in Elizabethport, N. J.

Gov. RICHARD B. OGILVIE ordered a state investigation.

Railroad officials said they could not immediately determine how fast the second train was traveling when it struck the rear of the first commuter.

The first commuter, a shiny, four-car, double-decked HighLiner overshot the 27th Street station and was backing up when it was rammed by the second train.
The second train was made up of six 1926 vintage coaches. Each train carried about 500 passengers.

Officials said that when the first train overshot the station it may have tripped a switch which changed a signal observed by the second train from red to yellow.
They said the yellow signal permitted the second train to travel toward the station at approximately 30 miles an hour, but also indicated to the engineer that the track was clear for 2,000 yards.

The engineer of the second train, ROBERT W. CAVANAUGH, shouted a warning to passengers before the collision. CAVANAUGH, who was injured, was among the last victims freed from the wreckage. He was removed by one of four helicopters which joined a dozen ambulances in speeding victims to hospitals.

The accident occurred within 100 yards of Michael Reese Hospital, which immediately initiated its disaster plan. Hundreds of dead and injured were rushed there as emergency medical teams set up a makeshift emergency room on the station platform.

The Kokomo Tribune Indiana 1972-10-31

CHICAGO TRAIN CRASH DEATH TOLL INCREASES

By FRANK L. SPENCER

CHICAGO (UPI) – J. A. WATTS was at the controls of the four-car modern bi-level commuter train when it apparently overshot the 27th street flag stop on the South Side.

He stopped the train and began backing up, triggering the railroad's “red” warning light. But it was too late to halt the oncoming old-style, six-car Illinois Central commuter train – causing the nation's worst train accident in 14 years.
At least 44 persons were killed in the wreck Monday and more than 320 others injured, some critically.

“People were flying all over the place,” said MRS. LAURIECE BROWNING, 33, a passenger on one train. “I screamed and screamed, and somehow I was able to find my way off that thing.”

HAROLD MELCHER, 21, who was in the first car of the approaching rear train, said he heard the conductor shout: “We're going to crash. Everybody get down.” He said he dropped to the floor and escaped without injury.

The impact thrust the older rear train car telescoping into the last double decker car. Most of the dead and seriously injured were riding in the last double-decker. It took rescue workers six hours to remove bodies and survivors from the wreckage.
President NIXON expressed his deepest sympathy and concern. He cancelled a ticker tape campaign parade scheduled for today in Chicago. Democratic presidential candidate GEORGE S. McGOVERN also cancelled a torchlight parade scheduled here Wednesday.

Mayor RICHARD J. DALEY called the crash “tragic.” He ordered flags flown at half staff in the city until Saturday in memory of the dead.

The President dispatched JOHN VOLPE, secretary of transportation, to Chicago to inspect the wreckage. VOLPE spent 40 minutes at the wreckage site, before touring some of the six hospitals that treated the 321 persons.

VOLPE and HENRY WAKELAND, director of the department's Bureau of Transportation Safety, said the accident raised questions about the strength of the new aluminum and steel commuter cars.

National Transportation Safety Board Chairman JOHN H. REED, of Washington, scheduled a news conference today to discuss the crash.

Investigations were begun by a number of agencies including the railroad, the federal and state government transportation departments, the Illinois Commerce Commission and the Cook County coroner's office.

JACK HUMBERT, the railroad's vice president in charge of operations, said the overshooting of the platform apparently led to the accident.

HUMBERT said the railroad uses block signals, with a green “go” light permitting speed up to 65 miles per hour, a yellow “caution light” permitting speed up to 30 m. p. h., and a red light which calls for the approaching train to stop.

HUMBERT said by the time the train backed up, and the signal colors changed, the second train apparently had traveled too far and was traveling too fast to stop in time.

H. G. MULLINS, the IC's superintendent of passenger service, said WATTS told him he overshot the platform by about 250 feet. MULLINS said he didn't know why the engineer passed the platform, but speculated: “Maybe he was going faster than he should have.”

The accident happened about three miles south of the Loop, and less than 100 yards from the Michael Reese Hospital complex. Dozens of doctors and nurses rushed from the hospital to give first aid to the injured.

Hundreds of motorists also stopped to lend assistance, jamming the nearby expressway.

The platform of the 27th street station was turned into an “outdoor hospital” where the injured were treated until they could be removed to hospitals.

DR. EDWARD GOLDBERG, staff surgeon at Michael Reese Hospital, was the first doctor at the scene. “Human limbs were hanging out the windows,” he said. “There was one 22-year-old fellow whose heart stopped, but he was revived. About the only thing doctors and nurses could do at the scene was apply tourniquets and splints, and give sedatives.”

The Coshocton Tribune Ohio 1972-10-31

Articles submitted & transcribed by Stu Beitler  Thank you, Stu!

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