Extracted from The News-Star (Monroe, LA)
Thursday, April 23, 1936

DUMMY LINE CRASH FATAL

Engine Collides With Cars; Operator Th[r]own From Cab, Mangled

HARRISONBURG, La., April 23. -- (Special) -- Dick Doyle, 28, dummy railroad operator for a local gravel company, was instantly killed last night about nine o'clock when he was thrown from his cab and run over by his engine. His chest, arms and legs were badly crushed and his neck broken and twisted under his left arm.

It was said by witnesses that Doyle had run some loaded gravel cars into a siding and had backed his engine back to the main line and after the switch had been thrown by a brakeman started back for another load. The cars had not been pushed far enough to allow passage by the engine on the main line; and it being dark, he ran headlong into the projecting car throwing himself from the cab and under the driver wheels of the locomotive.

Witnesses said it happened so quickly and it being night, they were unable to tell exactly how the accident occured.

A Jena undertaking establishment went to the scene over bad roads far back into the Catahoula hills east of the Ouachita river and are preparing the body for burial. No definite funeral arrangements have been announced, but burial will be made at the Harrisonburg cemetery.

Doyle is survived by three sisters and three brothers.