Hugo Bernard Buschman

Killed when his pickup truck was hit by a Great Northern passenger train. His truck had stalled on a crossing near the Melrose station.

From the St. Cloud Daily Times, Thur. 28 Mar 1929. Headline "New Munich Farmer Killed By Train". "Truck Is Hit By Great Northern Train Wednesday - Auto Stalls on Track After Being Pushed Thru Mired Roads Nearby - Brother Escapes - Believed That Members of Family Failed to See Oncoming Flyer" "Hugo Buschman, 28, of New Munich was instantly killed when his light truck was struck by a Great Northern passenger train at the Wessel crossing a half mile east of the Melrose station yesterday noon. A brother, also a passenger in the truck, jumped before the crash and escaped injury. Two head of beef cattle, loaded on the rear of the truck were killed and the truck was completely demolished." "Buschman, a New Munich farmer was driving toward Melrose at the time of the mishap. He had been having difficulty in getting over the soft road and his brother had been giving assistance by pushing, according to his story. As they approached the crossing the brother found that the truck was able to move on its own power and he leaped to the running board." "Brother Jumps - The oncoming train visible fro some distance, was too near to stop when the truck started over the crossing and, just before the crash came, Buschman's brother saw the train and jumped to safety." "Dr. A. E. Moynihan of Sauk Centre, deputy Stearns county coroner, was immediately called and investigated circumstances surrounding the accident. He reported today that Buschman should have seen the train and that no blame is placed on the train crew. He filed his official report showing that Hugo Buschman came to his death by being struck by a Great Northern passenger train." "Leaves Three Children - Buschman was born in Iowa, the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Buschman, now of New Munich, and has spent the greater portion of his life in that community. He leaves a widow and three children, his parents, and four sisters and two brothers, one of whom was with him at the time of the fatal accident." "Buschman's remains have been removed to his farm home where they will be kept until Friday afternoon when services will be held at the Immaculate Conception church at New Munich at 2:30. Burial will take place in the family lot in the New Munich cemetery. Next week a requiem mass will be sung in the church for the deceased because of this being holy week and masses could not be sung during the solemn days."