Upper Pittsgrove, NJ Bus And Auto Collision, Aug 1967

FOUR KILLED, 42 HURT IN EXCURSION BUS-CAR COLLISION.

Upper Pittsgrove Township, N.J. (AP) -- Four Philadelphia residents were killed Sunday night and 42 other persons injured when an excursion bus collided with a car in this South Jersey community.
State police said the bus, returning to Baltimore, Md. from Atlantic City, ws heading west on U.S. Highway 40 and the car south on the Aura Willowgrove Road when they collided about 7 p.m.
The car's occupants ROLAND COBB and his wife, BETTY, and WILLIAM ANTRON, and his wife, FRANCES, were dead on arrival at Newcomb Hospital in Vineland.
Of the 50 persons aboard the bus, three including the driver, LAWRENCE E. MELVIN, 47, of Glen Burnie, Md. were seriously injured.
Twelve passengers were treated and released at Newcomb Elmer Hospital reported treating 28. Of these, three were admitted including a woman in serious condition with a broken leg. Four others were treated at Salem County Memorial Hospital.
Police said the bus, owned by the Baltimore & Annapolis Railroad Co., had been chartered by the AME Zion Church, Pennsylvania Avenue, Baltimore, for a weekend outing.
The COBBS lived at 1923 North Sixth St.; the ANTRONS at 6934 North Carlisle St., all Philadelphia.
MELVIN'S address was listed as 420 Crain Highway, Glen Burnie, Md.
New Jersey state police patrolman JOHN KELLER, who investigated the crash, said the auto apparently drove into the path of the bus.
The bus crashed into the car and dragged it 143 feet, said the officer. GRACE TAYLOR of Baltimore, riding near the middle of the bus, said there was some panic as flames began to spread and passengers began kicking out windows. MRS. TAYLOR said nearby residents turned garden hoses on the bus to fight the fire.
MRS. TAYLOR said the bus driver was thrown from the bus but recovered momentarily and tried to open the door, but collapsed mumbling, "Oh, my God!"
The bus involved in the crash was followed by another bus carrying about 50 more church members. It was not damaged.

Lebanon Daily News Pennsylvania 1967-08-14
__________________

Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!