Train Hits Auto Near Cedar Lake
ONE KILLED; THREE HURT LAST WEDNESDAY NIGHT
A shocking accident occurred at the Farmdale crossing, north of Cedar Lake, last Wednesday night, when the automobile containing Peter Austgen, former Chief of Police of Hammond, his son and daughter and his sister, was struck by a Monon passenger train. The wounded people were taken on the train and taken to Rensselaer hospital. Peter Austgen died before the train reached Rensselaer. The son was very badly hurt and the last reports we hear is that he is still unconscious. The two ladies were not so badly hurt.
The party was coming to Lowell to see Mrs. Austgen who has been very poorly and came to Lowell in hopes of benefitting her health. She is staying at the Heiser hotel.
Peter Austgen was known to many of our people and was a man who had a host of friends all over the county. He served on the Hammond police force for many years, and at the time of his retirement was Chief of Police. At the time of his death he was doing special police duty in the First Trust and Savings bank at Hammond.