Chandos T. Ragon
- Fatal Collision at Crossing -- Demolished auto in which Chamdos T. Ragon of Calumet City was killed when New York Central passenger train rammed vehicle near 142 St. and Torrence Av., Burnham.
A copy of the following newspaper article, hand-identified as being from the May 10, 1954, Post Tribune, was found in a scrapbook owned by Town Historian Richard Schmal:
Hit by Train
Chandos T. Ragon, 29, of Calumet City, member of a pioneer Lake County family, was killed instantly late Saturday afternoon in Burnham, Ill., when his automobile was struck by a New York Central passenger train at the Torrence Avenue crossing. He lived at 1 Warren St.Ragon, according to Arthur Blackburn, Burnham police chief, was driving south along Torrence Avenue, when he drove directly into the path of a speeding westbound NYC passenger train.
At the time of the accident, the flasher signals were operating, Blackburn, adding that the crossing is also protected by a large stop sign.
Blackburn was told by the engineer on the train, Edward Walanga of Niles, Mich., that as Ragon approached the crossing, he apparently tried to bring his automobile to a halt. However, he failed to do so, the automobile plunging onto the rails directly in front of the engine.
Blackburn said the train was going about 50 miles and hour and hurled the auto 45 feet, the impact throwing Ragon's body more than 20 feet ahead of the car. Ragon was killed instantly, he said.
Worked for Paper
While in the Crown Point High School, from which he graduated in 1943, Ragon was employed by the Gary Post-Tribune circulation department. He was at first employed as a newspaperboy and later named Crown Point district manager.
Ragon was a World War II veteran, serving with the American army in the Pacific for 33 months.
Shortly after his discharge, Ragon was injured critically in an auto accident on Ind. 53, suffering a compound fracture of the leg and a back fracture. He was confined to his bed for more than a year. At the time of his death, Ragon was employed in the Graver Tank Car Co. plant in East Chicago and was director of the company's athletic association. He was also a member of the Calumet City American Legion Post.
The following article was found in the May 13, 1954, Lowell Tribune (page 1, column 2):
Chandos T. Ragon Killed by Train
Chandos T. Ragon, 29, member of a pioneer Lake county family was killed instantly late Saturday afternoon when his car was struck by a New York Central train enroute to his home at 1 Warren St., Calumet City, after enjoying a baseball game in Chicago.
Ragon was graduated from Crown Point high school in 1943. A World War II veteran, he served 33 months with the army in the Pacific area. For the past three years he had been employed in the office of the Graver Tank Car Co. plant in East Chicago and was director of the company's athletic association. He was a member of the Calumet City Legion Post.
Ragon's father, Chandos S. Ragon of Crown Point, served with the American army in France during World War I; his great-grandfather, the late H.H. Ragon of Lowell, was a Civil War captain. The Ragon family is among Lake County's pioneer residents.
Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Jean Ragon, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Chandos S. Ragon of Crown Point, sisters, Mrs. John Bradley of Oakland, Calif., and Mrs. John McGuan of East Chicago and grandmother, Mrs. Henrietta Ragon of Crown Point, besides a host of other relatives and friends. C.U. Ragon and Mrs. E.A. Surprise of Lowell are great-uncle and aunt of the deceased.
Memorial services were held at 2:30 p.m., May 12, at the Crown Point Christian church. Rev. E. L. Worley officiated and burial was in Lowell cemetery.
A copy of the following newspaper article, hand-identified as being from the May 13, 1954, Times, was found in a scrapbook owned by Town Historian Richard Schmal:
Train Kills Motorist
BURNHAM -- A 30-year-old Calumet City man was killed instantly when his car was struck by a speeding New York Central passenger train at 142nd and Torrence Ave.Chandos T. Ragon, of 1 Warren St., an office worker in the Graver Tank Works in East Chicago, was headed south of Torrence when the westbound train, going 50 miles an hour, according to the engineer, struck his car and hurled it 45 feet from the point of impact. Ragon's body was thrown 25 feet further.
THE CROSSING is not protected with gates, but has flasher lights and a bell. The engineer said Ragon slowed down for the crossing, and at the last minute went ahead and into the path of the train.
Ragon leaves a wife, Jean, and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Chandos Ragon of Crown Point. The body was taken to the Czechanski Funeral Home in Calumet City.
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