Pastor Escapes In Car Wreck

California, 1948

TURLOCK, Aug. 4. -- A car was smashed to pieces yesterday afternoon by a northbound train at the crossing at F Street, but the driver, Rev. A. E. Sabin, pastor of the Pentecostal Church of God, left the vehicle just before it was hit and escaped injury.

Rev. Sabin said the car stalled on the crossing and he was unable to start it. When he saw the train bearing down on him he leaped out, barely in time to escape the crash.

The train, Passenger No. 55, pulled to a stop approximately 100 yards down the track, and was delayed a half hour. It already was 15 minutes late when it reached the crossing.

Officials said the F Street crossing was the scene of the worst train accident in Turlock's history about 10 years ago. A train hit a gasoline truck and killed and injured several people.

--The Modesto Bee and News-Herald, Modesto, California, August 4, 1948, page 5.