I found this description of the accident that took Robert Walkinshaw Keiser's life - I believe - in California Digital Newspapers at an unknown date and time. I believe it has been between 2015 and 2020. I knew he had died at a young age with his girlfriend. I believe that his mother felt it was a suicide. I am afraid that she and her husband blamed themselves. Helen would say that they quit driving because they - Robert's parents - both spent a year drunk.
Apparently the couple had told Helen and Shelley that they wanted to get married. My mother thought that it was because Rose was of Asian Descent. I did some research and Rose wasn't Asian, but she was Catholic. I can't help but feel that religion might have played a role in Helen and Shelley said "No Way" to the marriage. This is all a guess.
This article reads:
Train, Auto Crashes Take Lives of Three
Two young people were killed in a train and car crash early today and a Fresno man died of injured suffered in a collision yesterday. The deaths placed the first entries on Fresno County's 1949 traffic fatality list. Four had been killed up to this date last year.
The victims were:
Robert Walkie Shaw Keiser, 20, of Miramonte, killed when his car was struck by a train south of Fowler at 1 AM today.
His companion, tentatively identified as Rose Freeman, 18, of Santa Monica, who was killed in the same crash.
Carl James Key, 36, of Route 6, Box 16, who was fatally injured in a collision at Cherry and Annadale Avenues yesterday.
Hit By Passenger Train
The highway patrol reported Keiser and Miss Freeman were killed when their automobile was hit by a southbound Southern Pacific passenger train at the Manning Avenue yesterday.
J. L. Riddle of Fowler, who witnessed the crash, told the officers Keiser was traveling west on Manning Avenue. As he approached the crossing he slowed down momentarily, then speeded up and drove into the path of the train, which was traveling at an estimated speed of 80 miles an hour.
The right front of the locomotive struck the left front wheel of the car, carrying the vehicle 138 feet down the track.
Hurled Out of Car
The occupants of the automobile were hurled out of the vehicle as the train struck it, and were killed instantly.
Riddell, who was headed east on Manning Avenue, was halted at the intersection waiting for the train to pass when the accident occurred.
Lloyd E. Johnson of Bakersfield, the fireman on the train, said he first saw the automobile when the locomotive was only about 25 feet north of the car.
The other members of the train crew are W. D. Jacobs, the conductor, and O. N. Crane, the engineer. Both live in Bakersfield.
Miss Freeman's father, Paul Free man of 848 Fourth Street, Santa Monica is enroute to Fresno to verify her identification.
Miss Freeman had been visiting with relatives in the Pinehurst district and left their home last night in the company of Keiser.
Marine Corps Veteran
Keiser was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Shelley Keiser of Miramonte. Keiser, Sr. is a rancher and former oil man. The youth returned last year after spending two years in the marine corps, including service in Japan. He was attending the Reedley Junior College.
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