Name Age Place of Birth > Place of Death Newspaper Publication Date Submitter
MUENCH, Elizabeth Anne7 Shattuc IL   Regina 

From an Unknown Paper:

Elizabeth Muench, 7,

Seven-year-old Elizabeth Anne Muench died Saturday, Oct. 19 [1991] in Shattuc after being struck by a train.

She was born in Breese on July 11, 1984, a daughter of Douglas and Mel Rae Robinson Muench.

Her parents survive in Shattuc along with two brothers, F. Joseph and Charles David Muench; three sisters, Sara Ann, Kathryn Rebbca and Rebecca Jane Muench, all at home; and grandparents, Mrs. Verona Muench of Shattuc and Lavelle J. and Lorraine K. Robinson of Salt Lake City, Utah.

Elizabeth was in second grade at Carlyle Grade School.

From the Carlyle Union Banner:

Piece from girl's jeans found in bike's sprocket

A state trooper testifying at a coroner's inquest Thursday, Oct. 24, gave evidence suggesting that a Shattuc girl's jeans might have been stuck in her bike's chain when the bike was hit by a train Oct. 19.

...........

THE SHATTUC girl, 7-year-old Elizabeth Anne Muench, was killed in the bike-train incident at Shattuc.

Trooper Mark McAmish of the Illinois State Police said he inspected the bicycle and found material lodged in the sprocket. The material was similar to that in the jeans which were worn by the girl, he said.

Trooper McAmish said it is possible that the girl could not stop the bike, which had a pedal brake, because her jeans were caught in the chain. He said the bike had no chain guard.

The trooper said the train's conductor and engineer saw the girl looking down and apparently trying to put her feet on the ground to stop the bike.

THE CORONER'S jury ruled the girl's death accidental.

Also from the Carlyle Union Banner

Shattuc girl, 7, killed when bike is hit by train

A 7-year-old Shattuc girl was killed after she was hit by a train Saturday afternoon, Oct. 19, in Shattuc.

Elizabeth Anne Muench was struck by the train while riding a bicycle across the Shattuc crossing, said Sheriff Don Krohn.

Sheriff Krohn said the train conductor blew the train's whistle to warn the girl. He said people aboard the train told him they were dumbfounded when she continued riding across the tracks.

A SHATTUC resident who was outside near the accident told police he heard the train's whistle sounding longer than usual.

The Muench girl was southbound on County Road 1320N, near the church and post office in Shattuc when she rode into the path of the eastbound train.

"For whatever reason, she continued on through the crossing. Nobody really saw how it happened," the sheriff said.

Sheriff Krohn said the girl's bicycle was thrown 45 to 50 feet.

CLINTON COUNTY Coroner Dave Moss, who pronounced the girl dead at the scene, said she was killed instantly.

The incident happened about 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

Mr. Moss said the crossing has only a crossing sign and a stop sign.

 

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