EVANS - 1961

A passenger train struck a bus from Greeley School District No. 6 at an unguarded grade crossing on Dec. 14, 1961, two miles east and a mile south of Evans, Colorado.

Twenty youngsters, ages 6 to 13, died. Three families lost two children each. Sixteen other children, were injured.

The school bus drove into the path of the Union Pacific streamliner "City Of Denver," which struck the rear of the bus at 80 mph. The bus driver was charged with manslaughter and acquitted.

Two years later, the school district opened East Memorial Elementary School in honor of the victims.

They were:

• SHERYL MITCHELL, about 6, daughter of MR. AND MRS. JACK MITCHELL.
• PAMELA HEIMBUCK, 9, daughter of MR. AND MRS. EDWARD HEIMBUCK.
• KATHY HEIMBUCK, 13, daughter of MR. AND MRS. EDWARD HEIMBUCK.
• LINDA ALLES, daughter of MR. AND MRS. REUBEN ALLES.
• KATHY BRANTNER, 9, daughter of MR. AND MRS. JOSEPH BRANTNER.
• CALVIN CRAVEN, 9, son of MR. AND MRS. RALPH CRAVEN.
• ELLEN LOU CRAVEN, 8, daughter of MR. AND MRS. RALPH CRAVEN.
• CINDY DORN, 11, daughter of MR. AND MRS. HERMAN DORN.
• JIMMY VAUGHN FORD, 13, son of MR. AND MRS. JAMES FORD.
• STEVEN LARSON, 7, son of MR. AND MRS. ARTHUR LARSON.
• JANET PAXTON, 11, daughter of MR. AND MRS. JAMES R. PAXTON.
• MARILYN PAXTON, 13, daughter of MR. AND MRS. JAMES R. PAXTON.
• ROBERT SMOCK, 10, son of MR. AND MRS. RICHARD SMOCK.
• LINDA WALSO, 13, daughter of MR. AND MRS. ALLEN WALSO.
• ELAINE WHITE, 11, daughter of MR. AND MRS. DON O. WHITE.
• MARY LOZANO, 11, daughter of MR. AND MRS. SIMON RANGEL.
• GERALD BAXTER, 10, son of MR. AND MRS. VERN R. BAXTER.
• MELODY FREEMAN, 8, daughter of MR. AND MRS. YOUNG FREEMAN.
• MARK BRANTNER, 6, son of MR. AND MRS. JOSEPH BRANTNER.