Lieutenant John W. Morley

John W. Morley

Lieutenant John Morley was killed in a train collision after a string of rail cars he was protecting was intentionally set free during a coal mine strike in High House, Pennsylvania.

He and a Pennsylvania State Police trooper were on a caboose that was attached to seven loaded coke cars. Striking miners had attempted to release coke cars at the same location on two previous nights. The cars were successfully released and traveled approximately 3-1/2 miles before crashing into a string of freight cars that were parked on the tracks at the Leckrone freight station.

Lieutenant Morley and the trooper both attempted to stop the cars using handbrakes but were unsuccessful. The trooper was critically injured as a result of the crash.

Lieutenant Morley was survived by his wife.