Helmer Amundson, 45, was fatally injured and his son, William, 10, was killed when their Ford truck was struck Saturday morning about 10:10 on the Eau Claire street crossing by the northbound Omaha passenger train due here at 9:45, which was 25 minutes late. Mr. Amundson, who resided in the town of Stanfold, had just had some wheat and clover seed cleaned at the New Richmond Roller Mills elevator and had just started to drive down-town when the fatal accident occurred. The front part of the truck had gotten onto the track when the crash occurred, with the tuck whirled around and badly demolished. Both Mr. Amundson and the son suffered skull fractures. Mr. Amundson was lying on the sidewalk and the body of the boy near the switch, farther on, which his body struck. Neither recovered consciousness, the boy dying within a few minutes, and Mr. Amundson passed away at Lakeside hospital at 2:15 Sunday morning.
There were many eyewitnesses to the fatal accident, including depot employees and passengers on the depot platform. Joe Gabriel and Jim Justeson were seated in a parked car near the crossing. From their testimony it appears that Mr. Amundson did not see the approaching train until his truck was almost upon the tracks and the jerky slowing of the truck shows he tried to stop it. Some thought the occupants would jump, but likely Mr. Amundson did not notice the train in time, due probably to obstructed vision or the noise of the truck. Quite a number of those interviewed said the train did whistle, but he evidently did not hear it and also sat on the side where his vision would be obscured.
A double funeral service was held this (Wednesday) afternoon at the Bethany Lutheran church, the Rev. H. G. Engum officiating, and the internment took place in the Stanfold cemetery.
There have been quite a number of more or less serious accidents on the Eau Claire street crossing, including the severe injury suffered by Roy Helgeland Dec. 3, 1929, when the coal truck he was driving was struck by the 5:30 milk train just pulling out. Others have suffered minor damages, one being a front bumper torn off. It has been suggested that a wig-wag signal would help.
Helmer Amundson was born at Taylor, Wis, Feb. 10, 1885. He married Miss Marie Solibakke at Troy, Idaho, in 1907. Returning to Wisconsin, he worked his father's farm at Taylor six years, then farmed near Mondovi four years, and in 1917 came to Barron County, buying the fine farm of 120 acres owned in the town of Stanfold, on highway 48, 7 miles west of the city. Besides the widow, there survive six children, Robert, who is attending Lawrence college; Harold, who finished high school and helps manage the farm; George and Margaret, who attend Rice Lake high school, and Ruth and Merle, at home, the latter being but two years old. The four brothers are August of Long Lake, Hans of Taylor, Martin of Blair and Albert of Northfield Minn., and the sister, Lena (Mrs Henry Hanson) of Rhame, N. D.
The son, William, who met tragic death with the father, was born in the town of Stanfold on April 10, 1920, and was a bright little fellow who attended the school near his home. The tragedy has cast a pall over the community.
[From a newspaper clipping scan supplied by Larry Amundson. Publication and printing date unknown, but probably 1931]
RICE, LAKE, Wis, April 13- Helmer Amundson, 45, died in a hospital here Sunday as the result of injuries received when his truck was struck by an Omaha train Saturday. Amundson's son, William, 10, who was riding with his father, was killed instantly.
[From a newspaper clipping scan supplied by Larry Amundson. Publication and printing date unknown, but probably 1931]