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The Central Branch passenger train crashed into a Ford coupe at the crossing just west of the Woodston Depot. Mrs. Roy Tipton received injuries about the head from which she died three days later. Mr. and Mrs. Tipton were living at Hays where Mr. Tipton and his brother, Ralph, are conducting a bakery. Mr. and Mrs. Tipton had driven to Alton to attend to some business and were on their way to the home of Alex Low, father of Mrs. Tipton, where they had left their baby in Mrs. Low’s care. Something went wrong with the motor on the Rock Hill north of Woodston and Mr. T. said they would go back to Woodston and get it fixed before going any farther. In approaching the crossing next to the depot, he passed close to the elevator and by a long string of coal chutes. He could not see the train on the other side, which was slowing down to stop at the station, and he turned to cross directly in its path. Mrs. Tipton saw the incoming train, but too late. She evidently tried to get out just as the engine struck the coupe. She was thrown upon the cowcatcher and carried to the depot where she fell into a pile of boxes. The coupe was thrown over on its side with Mr. Tipton in it, and pushed along the track about 60 feet until the train finally stopped. The mail clerk and others rushed to the coupe and pulled Mr. Tipton out. No one had seen Mrs. Tipton and she was not known to have been hurt until Mr. T. asked for her. Then her limp form was found on the pile of debris. She never regained consciousness, though she lived for three days. Every possible human aid was rendered without avail. Bertha Nevada Tipton was born on November 3rd, 1889 and died in Woodston on November 12th at the age of 23 years and nine days.
