HOBERT, Ralph
Source: Unknown newspaper (in a booklet of obits collected by Claudine Sowers Yerkes, given to me by Betty Dotson) – 1946
Rockville – One man was killed and another bruised in a motorcycle-train crash at a railroad crossing near Jessup at 3:20 o’clock Sunday afternoon. Ralph Holbert, 25, of near Jessup was fatally injured when he jumped from a motorcycle being operated by Paul Perry, 21, also of near Jessup into the path of an approaching engine and tender on the Logansport Division of the Pennsylvania railroad. Perry suffered a bruised hip. The crossing was said to have been partially blocked by freight cars on a siding. Perry applied his brakes and skidded sideways parallel with the train and escaped serious injury. Holbert, however, leaped from the cycle and was instantly killed when he landed in the path of the onrushing train. The train men apparently failed to see the men and continued to Terre Haute, it was reported by witnesses of the accident. Deputy Sheriff Fred Botts, State Policeman Jesse South and Deputy Coroner Edna Branson investigated the accident. The train was in charge of Engineer CR McMillan and Fireman WF Daughtery, both of Logansport and Flagman Charles Devilin of Brazil. There will be an inquest some time this week, Coroner Branson said.