ConRail train kills pedestrian
Viggo Mathisen, 76, of 3512 York, was killed Monday afternoon when he apparently slipped and fell in front of a ConRail tram on the tracks near the Oakside crossing.
St. Joseph County Coroner Dr Stanley Koscielski ruled the death accidental and said Mathisen died of massive head injuries.
Mathisen and his wife, Alvena, were crossing the tracks about 12:45 pm. as a westbound ConRail train was approaching. Engineer R.L. Lear said he blew the whistle, and both seemed to have heard.
"They were walking from south to north over the tracks and when they heard the bell ringing they started to run", Lear said.
"She made it. He almost did." He must have slipped on the tie or something. But he just sat down on the tracks", he said.
Dr Koscieslki added Mathisen died instantly when struck by the train, which Lear said was traveling at 40 miles an hour.
Mrs. Mathisen told police she and her husband were walking from their home south of the tracks to Lincoln Way E. to catch a bus.
Police speculated Mathisen may have slipped on the large stones that surround the tracks and ties.
Mathisen was born on Sept 7, 1902, in Denmark and lived here 38 years after moving from Niles.
In 1962, he retired from the South Bend Oliver Corp where he had worked for years.
He married the former Alvena Bender in Mishawaka in June, 1958.
Surviving are Alvena, and a cousin Mrs. Adline Williams, Paw Paw, Mich.
Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p m Wednesday at the Bubb Funeral Chapel.
The South Bend Tribune
South Bend, Indiana
17 Oct 1978, Tue • Page 34
Viggo Mathisen, 76, of 3512 York, was killed Monday afternoon when he apparently slipped and fell in front of a ConRail tram on the tracks near the Oakside crossing.
St. Joseph County Coroner Dr Stanley Koscielski ruled the death accidental and said Mathisen died of massive head injuries.
Mathisen and his wife, Alvena, were crossing the tracks about 12:45 pm. as a westbound ConRail train was approaching. Engineer R.L. Lear said he blew the whistle, and both seemed to have heard.
"They were walking from south to north over the tracks and when they heard the bell ringing they started to run", Lear said.
"She made it. He almost did." He must have slipped on the tie or something. But he just sat down on the tracks", he said.
Dr Koscieslki added Mathisen died instantly when struck by the train, which Lear said was traveling at 40 miles an hour.
Mrs. Mathisen told police she and her husband were walking from their home south of the tracks to Lincoln Way E. to catch a bus.
Police speculated Mathisen may have slipped on the large stones that surround the tracks and ties.
Mathisen was born on Sept 7, 1902, in Denmark and lived here 38 years after moving from Niles.
In 1962, he retired from the South Bend Oliver Corp where he had worked for years.
He married the former Alvena Bender in Mishawaka in June, 1958.
Surviving are Alvena, and a cousin Mrs. Adline Williams, Paw Paw, Mich.
Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p m Wednesday at the Bubb Funeral Chapel.
The South Bend Tribune
South Bend, Indiana
17 Oct 1978, Tue • Page 34
ConRail train kills pedestrian
Viggo Mathisen, 76, of 3512 York, was killed Monday afternoon when he apparently slipped and fell in front of a ConRail tram on the tracks near the Oakside crossing.
St. Joseph County Coroner Dr Stanley Koscielski ruled the death accidental and said Mathisen died of massive head injuries.
Mathisen and his wife, Alvena, were crossing the tracks about 12:45 pm. as a westbound ConRail train was approaching. Engineer R.L. Lear said he blew the whistle, and both seemed to have heard.
"They were walking from south to north over the tracks and when they heard the bell ringing they started to run", Lear said.
"She made it. He almost did." He must have slipped on the tie or something. But he just sat down on the tracks", he said.
Dr Koscieslki added Mathisen died instantly when struck by the train, which Lear said was traveling at 40 miles an hour.
Mrs. Mathisen told police she and her husband were walking from their home south of the tracks to Lincoln Way E. to catch a bus.
Police speculated Mathisen may have slipped on the large stones that surround the tracks and ties.
Mathisen was born on Sept 7, 1902, in Denmark and lived here 38 years after moving from Niles.
In 1962, he retired from the South Bend Oliver Corp where he had worked for years.
He married the former Alvena Bender in Mishawaka in June, 1958.
Surviving are Alvena, and a cousin Mrs. Adline Williams, Paw Paw, Mich.
Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p m Wednesday at the Bubb Funeral Chapel.
The South Bend Tribune
South Bend, Indiana
17 Oct 1978, Tue • Page 34
Viggo Mathisen, 76, of 3512 York, was killed Monday afternoon when he apparently slipped and fell in front of a ConRail tram on the tracks near the Oakside crossing.
St. Joseph County Coroner Dr Stanley Koscielski ruled the death accidental and said Mathisen died of massive head injuries.
Mathisen and his wife, Alvena, were crossing the tracks about 12:45 pm. as a westbound ConRail train was approaching. Engineer R.L. Lear said he blew the whistle, and both seemed to have heard.
"They were walking from south to north over the tracks and when they heard the bell ringing they started to run", Lear said.
"She made it. He almost did." He must have slipped on the tie or something. But he just sat down on the tracks", he said.
Dr Koscieslki added Mathisen died instantly when struck by the train, which Lear said was traveling at 40 miles an hour.
Mrs. Mathisen told police she and her husband were walking from their home south of the tracks to Lincoln Way E. to catch a bus.
Police speculated Mathisen may have slipped on the large stones that surround the tracks and ties.
Mathisen was born on Sept 7, 1902, in Denmark and lived here 38 years after moving from Niles.
In 1962, he retired from the South Bend Oliver Corp where he had worked for years.
He married the former Alvena Bender in Mishawaka in June, 1958.
Surviving are Alvena, and a cousin Mrs. Adline Williams, Paw Paw, Mich.
Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p m Wednesday at the Bubb Funeral Chapel.
The South Bend Tribune
South Bend, Indiana
17 Oct 1978, Tue • Page 34
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