"THE TRAGIC STORY OF BARBARA'S PASSING"
MANDEVILLE, Ark.-A 51-year-old Texarkana woman
was killed Wednesday when her compact car was
struck by a Union Pacific freight train,
an official said.
Barbara Ethridge drove her 1994 Hyundai Excel
around crossing-guard arms and stopped on the
railroad tracks as the train approached about
6:45 a.m. Wednesday, said Arkansas State
Police Trooper William Davidson.
"There are some aspects of this accident that
are still under investigation," Davidson said.
"It's kind of unusual that a woman would pull
out on the tracks and just stop her car."
The accident occurred where Miller County
Road 149 crosses two UP mainline tracks in
Mandeville, northeast of Texarkana in
Miller County.
Davidson would not speculate on a reason why
the car stopped on the tracks after driving
around the railroad crossing arms.
Ethridge was killed as the car was dragged
several yards; the train crew was unharmed.
"(Ethridge) disregarded the safety signals
of the train," said Davidson. "She did stop
on the tracks and was hit by the Union Pacific
train."While police are still investigating the
accident, Ethridge's family is certain it was
a suicide.
Her sister, Betty Beckham, said Ethridge was
released from Living Hope Hospital, a private
Texarkana mental health provider, on Tuesday
after she sought help "for being suicidal."
Family members do not believe Ethridge, who
they said had a mental disability. should have
been released from the facility.
Calls left for the director of Living Hope
were not immediately returned Wednesday evening.
The 10,000-ton train was hauling various
chemicals, but there were no leaks, Davidson
said. "We did have the track shut down for about
two hours," he said. "But there was no damage
to the train."
It was not immediately known if the two-hour
delay snarled the morning Amtrak arrival to
Texarkana. Miller County Sheriff's Office
assisted state police by taking pictures of the
accident scene, said Sheriff H.L. Phillips.
Ethridge cleaned houses for a living. Beckham
said. The family will remember Ethridge as a
generous, loving woman, said sister Kathy Goss.
"She was somebody that needed to be loved."
Ethridge is survived by four sisters and a
daughter, whose father was a railroad conductor,
Beckham said. "Her life started on the track and
ended on the track," said Beckham
In her car a note was found . It ask everyone
and God to forgive her. She felt that she had to
go.WHY????????????
Barbara will be missed by all her Family and
All her Friends.
I put this tribute in a Group that Barb E. and
I did sig contest for and they asked me to give
these messages to the Family and Friends of
Barb E. The Group is called NYLady
discussion group.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I REMEMBER BARB E VERY WELL, SHE WAS A FRIEND
TO EVERYONE, AND HAD SUCH A WONDERFUL TALENT.
I SEND MY HEARTFELT SYMPATHY TO BARB E'S
FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
POKEY, THANKS FOR LETTING US KNOW THIS
VERY SAD NEWS. NYLADY
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
THIS IS SAD NEWS.
I KNEW BARB E FROM ANOTHER NG.
SHE WAS THE KIND OF LADY THAT WOULD ALWAYS
LEND A HELPING HAND. SUCH A SWEET AND GENTLE
SOUL. I WILL MISS HER.
DEB
AKA
AHMASBABY
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I REMEMBER SEEING YOUR NAME IN SOME OF THE
SIG CONTESTS IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY.
THAT WAS A WONDERFUL TRIBUTE TO SOMEONE WHO
MUST HAVE BEEN VERY NICE FOR IT SEEMS SHE
HAD NICE FRIENDS WHO THOUGHT VERY HIGHLY OF
HER. AS SHE SEEMED TO BE A VERY SHARING
PERSON, I AM SURE SHE WOULD BE VERY GLAD
TO SHARE THEM WITH ANYONE THAT MIGHT
WANT THEM.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I AM SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS, SHE SOUNDS LIKE
SHE WAS A NICE LADY, PRETTY DAUGHTER, TOO.
PRAYERS WILL BE SAID I AM SURE FOR FRIENDS
& FAMILY. ~LACEY
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I AM SORRY TO SAY THAT I DON'T KNOW YOU OR
YOUR DEAR FRIEND. I PROBABLY WASN'T A
MEMBER HERE WHEN YOU POSTED, BUT I DO WANT
TO OFFER MY CONDOLENCES TO YOU. YOUR FRIEND
SOUNDED LIKE A WONDERFUL LADY, AND HER POEM
WAS JUST LOVELY. HOW SAD YOU MUST BE. IT IS
VERY HARD TO LOSE A GOOD FRIEND.
GOD BLESS, AND TAKE CARE.
MAR
"OUR TRIP TO N.J."
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