Patterson Cemetery District, Stanislaus County, CA 

Submitted by Gale Stroud and Burta Herger 26 Aug 2007

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Harbell Carroll O 350503 p1
Harbell Crushed By Speeding Limited; Crossing Crash at Vernalis Fatal To Real Estate Man; Carroll O. Harbell,
Patterson real estate man and rancher, was instantly killed Saturday morning when his car was struck by the speeding
West Coast Limited at the grade crossing a mile south of Vernalis. So terrific was the head-on impact that car and driver
were crushed as if by a gigantic pile-driver.  Harbell's skull was crushed in and bones were smashed all over his body.
The car was hurled clear by the impact, the fragments landing on the east side of the right of way close to the crossing,
but scarcely a recognizable piece of debris remained. Harbell was en route to Sacramento at the time, and both car and
train were going in the same direction as he approached the crossing, which is entirely clear with visibility good in both
directions, and he very evidently failed to look as he turned to cross the track. The crash occurred at 6:38 a. m., the
limited being approximately an hour late at the time and it was traveling at a high rate of speed. Harbell s death was the
fourth resulting from grade crossing collisions with the Los Angeles limiteds within eight months in this section.  Harry
Jones of Westley was killed by the same train last August at Westley, and Mrs. Dale Baldridge and son, Robert, of
Gustine, were killed by the Owl in December at the crossing north of Patterson.
Here Nine Years; Harbell was a native of Compton., California, aged 41 years, and is survived by the widow; two sons
Carroll Jr., and John; and one daughter, Jane.  Mrs. Harbell and daughter have been residing it Compton this winter,
having been called down, to nurse her father. A sister and two brother-in-laws, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Maley and Charles
Mulherron of Compton, came up Sunday to take the remains south.  Funeral services were held at Compton Wednesday
morning. John Harbell accompanied them, but will return here this weekend to complete his studies at Patterson High.
Carroll Jr. is attending a CCC camp. Harbell came here nine years ago to take charge of the former Marshall Ranch at the
south end of Patterson Colony, which was purchased by Senator Ed Fletcher of San Diego, and has also been associated
with R. J. Spooner in the real estate business.  The family suffered a severe loss several years ago when a fire destroyed
their ranch home and all their belongings, and also suffered other reverses, and only recently a welcome promise of
appointment to the State Board of Equalization forces was received by Harbell.  He was en route to Sacramento to seek
information on this when the tragedy occurred.