This Day in History: 1916-06-25

John Vitus, 22, a Russian, who was returning from a Polish wedding in West Mahwah was struck by the Chicago express. He suffered fractures of six ribs and a collar bone, and internal injuries. He is not expected to live. He and another guest were walking down the tracks and stopped in front of Scherer’s to watch a New York train go by. Although the engineer of the express repeatedly blew his whistle the two young men did not hear it. At the last minute they tried to run beyond the iron fence which protects the side of the tracks. His companion escaped but Vitus was struck. He was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital. (Bristow)