Salt Lake Telegram | 1944-11-08 | Page 1 | 12 Die, over 75 Injured in Challenger Wreck

12 Die Over 75 Injured In Challenger Wreck COLFAX Cal Nov No 8 UP UP A A section of the transcontinental Southern Pacific Challenger passenger passenger passenger pas pas- train carr carrying inga a a capa capacity ity load of oC service men and civilians to San Francisco jumped the tracks and crashed into a ditch in inthe inthe inthe the Sierra Nevadas Wednesday Killing at least 12 persons and Injuring injuring in injuring In- In juring more than 75 Ambulances dispatched by the DeWitt general army hospital and the corone coroners coroner office returned to I Colfax with load load after load of or injured and searchers after alter counting counting counting count count- ing 12 dead continued the hunt for bodies the Red dross Cross ross disaster service service service ice reported The injured Including soldiers sailors and civilians were rushed to DeWitt Vitt hospital for treatment by army doctors Some were in m serious condition Unofficial on- on the thc reports indicated the tollof toll tollof tollof on-I on of injured may run considerably higher A sailor estimated were hurt hurl The crash occurred three miles mUes west of Colfax a mountain town near the summit of the Sierra Sierra Nevada range range Dick Wayland Vayland U United Press correspondent in Colfax reported six coaches a a diner and three baggage baggage baggage bag bag- gage cars telescoped behind the engine which plowed into a dirt embankment Eight other cars can remained upright The Auburn chapter of the Red RedCross RedCross RedCross Cross including 15 nurses nurse nurses nurses' aids and staff assistants assisted in m caring for tor the wounded Col D D. D N. N Smith chief medical officer at af DeWitt hospital sent senta a total of oC 11 ambulances to the wreck Wayland said an army doctor and two nurses who were passengers passengers on the train established established an emergency first aid station station sta sta- tion at a farm ann house near the wreck The dead included the engin engineer er whose was not available and arid seVen sex en persons trapped in one the Va land said of wrecked cars Wayland