1999 "City of New Orleans" Amtrak Crash Memorial - Bourbonnais, IL
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member cldisme
N 41° 09.302 W 087° 52.740
16T E 426247 N 4556339
Two large plaques remembering the 11 people killed and to all those who came forward to help, plus a statue specifically for the children killed in the crash.
Waymark Code: WM2HH3
Location: Illinois, United States
Date Posted: 11/05/2007
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member ggmorton
Views: 117

The actual crash occured at Waymark WM22FM.


The monument is located towards the center of town at a major intersection.

The first plaque explains how the accident occured when a steel laden truck failed to complete the at-grade crossing in a timely manner and the "City of New Orleans" Amtrak train hit the truck and derailed. Eleven people were killed and 122 injured as a result.

The eleven killed are named in this first plaque:
Helena Adkins, 42 - Bremerton, WA
Wendy Vant, 42 - Bremerton, WA
Leona Vant, 71 - Bremerton, WA
Vergil Vant, 76 - Bremerton, WA
Marie Munson, 64 - Mount Prospect, IL
Keiichi Momura, 20 - Tokushima, Japan
Jessica Tickle, 11 - Nesbit, MS
June Lee Bonnin, 46 - Nesbit, MS
Rainey Lipscomb, 10 - Lake Cormorant, MS
Lacey Lipscomb, 8 - Lake Cormorant, MS
Sheena Dowe, 22 - Jackson, MS


The second plaque, along with the first, honors all those in the community that came forth to help during the disaster.

Lastly, a special children's memorial statue was included for the children killed in the crash. But because all children are special and should be remembered, local families could sponsor a sidewalk brick for the children they hold dear.
Disaster Date: 03/15/1999

Date of dedication: 03/25/2000

Memorial Sponsors: Mayor Grover Brooks & the Children's Memorial Committee of the City of Bourbonnais

Parking Coordinates: N 41° 09.298 W 087° 52.740

Disaster Type: Technological

Relevant Website: [Web Link]

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