Date: September 21, 1910 Source Type: Postcard Publisher, Printer, Photographer: J. H. Hoover (#169-18) Postmark: None Collection: Steven R. Shook Remark: This image shows bystanders observing the wreckage of two interurban cars that collided with one another on September 21, 1910, killing 42 people (image incorrectly indicates 41 killed). The wreck occured on the Bluffton Division of the Fort Wayne & Wabash Valley Traction Company line just north of Kingsland, Wells County, Indiana.

The wreck involved two interurban cars. One car was an Indiana Union Traction Company of Indiana interurban (the car on the right in this image) that was loaded with individuals heading to a fair at Fort Wayne. The other car was an empty Wabash Valley interurban car operated by a motorman and conductor that was headed from Fort Wayne to Bluffton to pick up passengers for the fair.

The wreck was the fault of the Wabash Valley operators, who were going approximately 60 miles per hour and were two stops beyond their scheduled crossing with the Union Traction Company interurban. The Union Traction Car interurban had just picked up additional passengers and was gaining speed when the two cars collided on a curve just north of Kingsland. According to investigations regarding this accident, vegetation that had become overgrown along the track right-of-way prevented the crews from sighting one another early enough to prevent a collision.

The Wabash Valley interurban was constructed of metal, while the Union Traction Company interurban car was of considerably lighter wood construction. Naturally, the greater amount of inertia possessed by Wabash Valley interurban car caused it to plow half way through the Union Traction Company interurban car. All 42 people killed in this collision were on the Union Traction Company interurban. Amazingly, the crews of both interurban cars survived the collision. The total number of individuals killed in this collision ranks it first as the deadliest interurban transit wreck.

The Union Traction Company interurban car was irreparable and burned at the site of the collision, while the Wabash Valley interurban was repaired and reportedly put back into service.