Train Accident Kills Emmons and Bray 1955

Train Accident March 10, 1955

Two prominent Lawrenceville citizens were victims of a fatal train-truck crash just north of Pinkstaff at 11:45 am when the south bound New York Central Train struck the pick-up truck in which they were riding. The men, Frank Bray, retired assistant postmaster was instantly killed while his companion, Lyman Emmons, former state senator and prominent Lawrenceville funeral director, died at the Lawrence County Memorial Hospital at 1:40 o’clock pm.

The two Lawrenceville men were driving the truck belonging to Emmons west of the Johnson farm when the southbound New York Central train hit the truck and threw the two men from the cab.

Floyd Pinkstaff, of Lawrenceville, who was near the scene of the accident, stated that both men were conscious when he arrived. Although he was acquainted with Emmons, the two men were so badly bruised, that he failed to recognize either of them.

The train which hit the two men was the New York Central local freight that runs between Paris and Mt Carmel. It stopped after the wreck, according to the witness, Floyd Pinkstaff.

When asked by Pinkstaff who he was, Bray replied that he was Frank Bray. Emmons said simply, “Train hit us.” Within a few minutes, while the man was standing helplessly by, Frank Bray died. Shortly after, an ambulance arrived and removed Emmons to the Lawrenceville hospital.

The two men had been making garden, according to reports received by Lawrence County Sheriff Carlos Whipkey, at the Emmons farm near the place of the accident. They were on their way to Lawrenceville for their noon meal.

Lyman W Emmons, age 70, was a former state representative and later a state senator from Lawrence County. He was born on a farm in the county on March 5, 1885. He conducted an exclusive undertaking business in Lawrenceville until 1917. He was president of the Lawrenceville Board of Education, Library Board, member of the IOOF, AF and AM, BPOE and Ben Hur.

Frank Bray, age 70, also spent his early life in Lawrence County and attended school here. Later he worked in the oil fields of the county and then went to work in the Lawrenceville Post Office in 1913. He retired from his duties in the Post Office July 31, 1954. He was acting postmaster in 1942 and 1943 and a member of Edward Dobbins Masonic Lodge of Lawrenceville.