Pennsylvania Game Commission, Pennsylvania
End of Watch: Sunday, August 10, 1919
Age: 72
Tour of Duty: 14 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Struck by train
Date of Incident: August 10, 1919
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Chief Game Protector Joseph Kalbfus and Field Superintendent Woody Kelly were killed when their patrol car was struck by a "Fast Express" train in Warren County, Pennsylvania.
The two were traveling from DuBois to Warren as part of their inspection of the state game preserves. About 12:15 pm Superintendent Kelly was driving across a track crossing near Sheffield when the express train rounded a curve and struck the car. Dr. Kalbfus was thrown from the vehicle and died instantly while Kelly was pinned between the wreckage of the car and the locomotive. This crossing was in a dangerous location and was the scene of another accident about a week earlier.
Chief Kalbfus had served as the chief of the department since its founding in 1905. He was survived by his wife.