Baxter Osborne Jr "Ozzie"
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Born 22 Jun 1944 Greenup, Greenup County, Kentucky, USA
Died 22 May 2015 Enon, Clark County, Ohio, USA Obituary Cremated Parents Baxter Osborne and Dorothy Elizabeth Triplett Married Kathleen Remmell Children Cynthia Gail James Baxter Married Lisa Lorraine Shuford Step Children Brandi Nicole Lewis Patrick Joseph Lewis Drafter/Designer, Speedway Corporate, previous Semi-Truck Driver, Trail Guide for Jeep Jamboree |
On 7 Jul 1977, "Ozzie" was driving a semi-truck, crossed unmarked railroad tracks, and was hit by a train. He lost his hand, and his fiancé lost her life. He was 33 years old. Every year, his widow posts this photo on his Facebook page on 7 Jul in memory.
In 2020, his brother, Stephen Philip, wrote this on the post:
"That man had more jokes than anyone I know...always had a quick wit and could respond to anything and make you laugh. I envied his quick-witted personality but loved him for it. I was working for Lexington PD when this wreck happened and took off to Michigan to see him and went out and evaluated the wreck scene...I cannot believe the State of Michigan did not have a better marked RR crossing in that area. A corn field on a 10-foot-tall bank on his right, and that field was full of full-grown corn stalks. Unless you were familiar with the area, there is no way you could have seen or heard a train coming, particularly driving an 18-wheeler...It was completely blind till you reached the crossing. He hauled produce between Florida and Michigan, fruits to Michigan, vegetables to Florida...He was so lucky, but lost his arm trying to turn the truck to the right to avoid the train taking out the side his girlfriend was sitting on...the whole situation was really sad...We all miss him very much..."
In 2020, his brother, Stephen Philip, wrote this on the post:
"That man had more jokes than anyone I know...always had a quick wit and could respond to anything and make you laugh. I envied his quick-witted personality but loved him for it. I was working for Lexington PD when this wreck happened and took off to Michigan to see him and went out and evaluated the wreck scene...I cannot believe the State of Michigan did not have a better marked RR crossing in that area. A corn field on a 10-foot-tall bank on his right, and that field was full of full-grown corn stalks. Unless you were familiar with the area, there is no way you could have seen or heard a train coming, particularly driving an 18-wheeler...It was completely blind till you reached the crossing. He hauled produce between Florida and Michigan, fruits to Michigan, vegetables to Florida...He was so lucky, but lost his arm trying to turn the truck to the right to avoid the train taking out the side his girlfriend was sitting on...the whole situation was really sad...We all miss him very much..."