Bertha, OR Trolley Collision, May 1920

8 KILLED WITH 38 INJURED IN TROLLEY CRASH.

DISREGARD OF ORDERS BY CREW SAID TO HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR WRECK.

TRAINS COLLIDE HEAD-ON.

EVERY PASSENGER IN ONE COACH EITHER KILLED OR INJURED BY COLLISION.

Portland, Ore., May 9. -- Eight persons were killed and 38 injured eight miles south of here today, when two electric trains on the west side line of the Southern Pacific company collided head-on. Railroad officials said disregard of orders by the crew of the Portland-bound train led to the disaster.
The railroad officials said the crews had orders to meet at Bertha, but the northbound train failed to stop there. The trains met a mile from Bertha station.
The inbound train was made up with the main passenger coach ahead of the smoker and combination car, and it was in this coach that most of the casualties occurred, every passenger in it being either killed or injured.
The cars of both trains were of all-steel construction. The forward cars of each train were battered in for a distance of about fifteen feet and so tightly interlocked that it was with great difficulty some of the dead and injured were removed.
The dead:
MRS. C. A CROOKS, Hillsdale, Ore.
FREDERICK PEEBLER, engine helper, Portland.
MRS. C. R. ARUNDELL, Dosch Station, Ore.
ROBERT ARUNDELL, Herzon, aged 4.
FIEURTOT DESCH, aged 4, Dosch Station.
SILAS K. WILLETT, motorman, Portland.
NEWTON HOOVER, Beaverton, Ore.
MISS IONE HATCH, Hillsdale, Ore.
Of those injured it was said the condition of twelve was serious.

Nevada State Journal Reno 1920-05-09
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!