Coroner’s Inquest of the Michigan, North Dakota Train Accident
Collection
Identifier: SC 825
Scope and Contents
Contains a copy of the coroner’s inquest with the witness testimonies.
Dates
- 1945
Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Institute.
Copyrights
Copyrights to this collection is held by the Institute.
Biography
The train wreck that happened on August 9, 1945 in Michigan, North Dakota would become the worst train disaster in North Dakota history. Two Great Northern passenger trains were traveling towards the west coast. Most of the more than 900 passengers in both cars were military men and women. Train 1 contained Pullman sleeper cars with 237 on board while Train 2 carried between 600 and 700 in coach cars. Train 1 had to make an emergency stop (one of several since leaving the Fargo station) in Michigan and Train 2 was not able to slow in time before crashing into the end of Train one. The last section of Train one, contained 35 people. One serviceman jumped out a window but the other 34 were killed either instantly or by steam from the Train 2 engine. One person was found alive, Mrs. George Bannan, however, once she was freed, she did 15 minutes later. The people of Michigan, North Dakota came out to help with the rescue including, once night fell, turning on their car headlights to illuminate the scene.
A coroner’s inquest would later find the flagman and conductor of Train 1 to be responsible for the accident and were subsequently fired.
Extent
1 Items (1 item)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Contains a copy of the coroner’s inquest with the witness testimonies.
Provenance
Donated by Unknown.
Property rights
The Institute for Regional Studies owns the property rights to this collection.
- Title
- Finding Aid to the Coroner’s Inquest of the Michigan, North Dakota Train Accident
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Institute for Regional Studies Repository
Contact:
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu