Patterson Cemetery District, Stanislaus County, CA Submitted by Gale Stroud and Burta Herger 26 Aug 2007 This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter. Garcia Jose A 050326 p3 Local Man Killed by Train; Jose Antonio Garcia A Patterson man died Wednesday morning after driving his pickup in front of an oncoming train south of Patterson. Jose Antonio Garcia, 50, died upon impact from blunt head injuries, according to the Stanislaus County Coroner's office. He was traveling eastbound on Pomelo Avenue through an unmarked railroad crossing on Highway 33 when a California Northern Railroad train hit his pickup, California Highway Patrol officer Alberto Reyes said. The train, driven by 52- year-old Tracy resident Malcom Cowen, was headed southbound at about 28 mph at the time of the 11:47 a.m. crash, a CHP report stated. Garcia's truck was dragged about 50 feet and landed east of the train in a field on the southeast side of the intersection. For some reason, Garcia failed to see the train coming the report stated. Reyes said Cowen blew the train's horn as required when approaching such intersections. Alcohol or drugs did not play a role in Wednesday's incident, CHP officials reported. California Northern officials could not be reached for comment as of press time. Garcia had worked for Patterson-area farmer Manuel Trinta for more than 20 years. "He was a good man," Trinta said Thursday. He worked hard. At first he was like a young pup � you had to train him. Garcia was a native of El Salvador, and he had a wife and three sons in Patterson, Trinta said. Trinta said the unmarked railroad crossing at Highway 33 and Pomelo Avenue is particularly dangerous because there is a dry yard and trees southeast of the crossing, which blocks the view of oncoming trains. Sycamore Avenue resident Robert Miranda, who tried to get a closer look at the scene Wednesday, said he passes the railroad crossing every day, and he also mentioned that the trees block visibility. "They don't have a crossing guard; they should have that," he said. CHP officer Tom Killian said Thursday that Stanislaus County generally gets a couple of train-related automobile accidents each year, but most of those are caused by drivers trying to go around the crossing gates. He said there has not been a similar accident in the Patterson area in recent memory. Still, county officials have expressed concerned about unmarked crossings. George Stillman, Stanislaus County's director of public works, said he has noticed an increase in automobile and railroad traffic around unmarked crossings in the Patterson area, and crossing gates are needed. "As far as the county's perspective, I wish we could get them all gated," he said. State officials also have pushed for most railroad crossings to be gated, he said. Railroad companies usually pay for new crossing gates. However, they must submit plans to the California Public Utilities Commission, and the process can take years, Stillman said. Meanwhile, several area residents say they hope those gates come up sooner rather than later. "All these crossing are bad," Trinta said. "You don't see the trains coming." Garcia Jose A 050330 p9 Jose Antonio Garcia Feb. 13, 1955 � March 23, 2005 A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday for Jose Antonio Garcia, 50, of Patterson, who died March 23 in an auto accident on Highway 33 and Pomelo Avenue in Patterson. Mr. Garcia was a native of Sensuntepeque doto, Cabanas, El Salvador. He lived in Patterson 25 years and worked 20 years for farmer Manuel Trinta. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Patterson. He enjoyed fishing and spending time with his family. He is survived by his wife, Gloria Garcia of Patterson; three sons, Angel Antonio Garcia, Alfonso Garcia and Gerardo Garcia, all of Patterson; five brothers, Benjamin Garcia of El Salvador and Marcos A. Garcia, David Garcia, Francisco Garcia and Angel A. Garcia, all of Patterson; four sisters, Lidia Garcia of El Salvador, Maria Emma Granados of Los Angeles, and Josepha Gallegos and Teresa Garcia of Patterson; and parents, Maria Santos and Ramirez Garcia, both of El Salvador. Visitation is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at Whitehurst, Norton & Dias Chapel, 286 W. Main, Turlock. A rosary is scheduled for 7 p.m. today at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 529 I St., Patterson. Thursday's Mass will begin at 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Patterson District Cemetery, 10800 Highway 33, Patterson. Whitehurst Norton & Dias in Turlock is handling the arrangements.