John Dewitt Runs Into River Following Crash: Robert Andrews, Miss Clara Koning Are Injured.
In one of the most unusual accidents ever recorded in Tippecanoe county, a 16-year old Americus boy lost his life and two other young people were seriously injured late yesterday when crashed into the side of a northbound Monon passenger train No.6 at the "mantrap" crossing south of the city, after which the boy, apparently dazed from the car wreckage and ran more than 1,000 feet and plunged into the Wabash River where he was drowned.
The dead boy was John Frank DeWitt, son of Mr. and Mrs. John F. DeWitt of Americus, and the injured persons are Robert Andrews, 23 of 113 South Twenty-Eight Street, and Miss Clara Koning, 23 daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Koning of Vinton Street
RECOVER BODY
The youth's body was recovered from the river shortly after 6 o'clock in the evening after it had been in the water a little over two hours. The boy's long and brisk dash to the river is believed to have been due to a dazed condition resulting from a blow on the head. The body was taken to Rogers and Henderson funeral home and an examination of it by Coroner John S. Morrison and Deputy Harry E. Klepinger showed a sever scalp wound. It was indicated that the coroner's verdict would be that of accidental drowning.
Andrews and Miss Koning were taken to St. Elizabeth hospital in the city ambulance. Andrews was unconscious from a head injury and he also suffered other numerous cuts and bruises. Miss Koning suffered a compound leg fracture and head injuries. She is expected to recover, but the outcome of Andrews condition was in doubt last night.
HIT LOCOMOTIVE
The train due at the North Street Station at 2:45 o'clock, was running more than an hour late when the accident occurred. The car, belonging to Andrews, was driven by DeWitt with the girl seated between them. The train was drawn by two locomotives and the car crashed into the side of the first one, just behind the cylinder.
The car was going up the hill toward Elston. It was badly wrecked, the motor being torn out and hurled hundreds of feet. Police found the machine in the middle of the road about 15 feet from the tracks. Both Andrews and the girl were still in the wreckage.
RUNS TO THE RIVER
Jacob Hockstra, 28 of 1016 Hartford Street, a witness, told police he pursued the fleeing DeWitt through a cornfield all the way to the river but was unable to catch up with him. After plunging into the water, the youth went down under the weight of his clothing.
City and State police, sheriff and civilians used boats and grappling hooks to recover the body. The civilians who aided the authorities were Bert Hathaway, Grover Phillips and James Ogborn.
DEWITT SURVIVORS
DeWitt was born at Americus December 31, 1925. Besides his parents he is survived by three sisters: Mrs Ray Booth, Battle Ground Rural Route 1, Mrs Leroy Fagan, Lafayette Rural Route 3, and Betty DeWitt at home.
In one of the most unusual accidents ever recorded in Tippecanoe county, a 16-year old Americus boy lost his life and two other young people were seriously injured late yesterday when crashed into the side of a northbound Monon passenger train No.6 at the "mantrap" crossing south of the city, after which the boy, apparently dazed from the car wreckage and ran more than 1,000 feet and plunged into the Wabash River where he was drowned.
The dead boy was John Frank DeWitt, son of Mr. and Mrs. John F. DeWitt of Americus, and the injured persons are Robert Andrews, 23 of 113 South Twenty-Eight Street, and Miss Clara Koning, 23 daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Koning of Vinton Street
RECOVER BODY
The youth's body was recovered from the river shortly after 6 o'clock in the evening after it had been in the water a little over two hours. The boy's long and brisk dash to the river is believed to have been due to a dazed condition resulting from a blow on the head. The body was taken to Rogers and Henderson funeral home and an examination of it by Coroner John S. Morrison and Deputy Harry E. Klepinger showed a sever scalp wound. It was indicated that the coroner's verdict would be that of accidental drowning.
Andrews and Miss Koning were taken to St. Elizabeth hospital in the city ambulance. Andrews was unconscious from a head injury and he also suffered other numerous cuts and bruises. Miss Koning suffered a compound leg fracture and head injuries. She is expected to recover, but the outcome of Andrews condition was in doubt last night.
HIT LOCOMOTIVE
The train due at the North Street Station at 2:45 o'clock, was running more than an hour late when the accident occurred. The car, belonging to Andrews, was driven by DeWitt with the girl seated between them. The train was drawn by two locomotives and the car crashed into the side of the first one, just behind the cylinder.
The car was going up the hill toward Elston. It was badly wrecked, the motor being torn out and hurled hundreds of feet. Police found the machine in the middle of the road about 15 feet from the tracks. Both Andrews and the girl were still in the wreckage.
RUNS TO THE RIVER
Jacob Hockstra, 28 of 1016 Hartford Street, a witness, told police he pursued the fleeing DeWitt through a cornfield all the way to the river but was unable to catch up with him. After plunging into the water, the youth went down under the weight of his clothing.
City and State police, sheriff and civilians used boats and grappling hooks to recover the body. The civilians who aided the authorities were Bert Hathaway, Grover Phillips and James Ogborn.
DEWITT SURVIVORS
DeWitt was born at Americus December 31, 1925. Besides his parents he is survived by three sisters: Mrs Ray Booth, Battle Ground Rural Route 1, Mrs Leroy Fagan, Lafayette Rural Route 3, and Betty DeWitt at home.
John Dewitt Runs Into River Following Crash: Robert Andrews, Miss Clara Koning Are Injured.
In one of the most unusual accidents ever recorded in Tippecanoe county, a 16-year old Americus boy lost his life and two other young people were seriously injured late yesterday when crashed into the side of a northbound Monon passenger train No.6 at the "mantrap" crossing south of the city, after which the boy, apparently dazed from the car wreckage and ran more than 1,000 feet and plunged into the Wabash River where he was drowned.
The dead boy was John Frank DeWitt, son of Mr. and Mrs. John F. DeWitt of Americus, and the injured persons are Robert Andrews, 23 of 113 South Twenty-Eight Street, and Miss Clara Koning, 23 daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Koning of Vinton Street
RECOVER BODY
The youth's body was recovered from the river shortly after 6 o'clock in the evening after it had been in the water a little over two hours. The boy's long and brisk dash to the river is believed to have been due to a dazed condition resulting from a blow on the head. The body was taken to Rogers and Henderson funeral home and an examination of it by Coroner John S. Morrison and Deputy Harry E. Klepinger showed a sever scalp wound. It was indicated that the coroner's verdict would be that of accidental drowning.
Andrews and Miss Koning were taken to St. Elizabeth hospital in the city ambulance. Andrews was unconscious from a head injury and he also suffered other numerous cuts and bruises. Miss Koning suffered a compound leg fracture and head injuries. She is expected to recover, but the outcome of Andrews condition was in doubt last night.
HIT LOCOMOTIVE
The train due at the North Street Station at 2:45 o'clock, was running more than an hour late when the accident occurred. The car, belonging to Andrews, was driven by DeWitt with the girl seated between them. The train was drawn by two locomotives and the car crashed into the side of the first one, just behind the cylinder.
The car was going up the hill toward Elston. It was badly wrecked, the motor being torn out and hurled hundreds of feet. Police found the machine in the middle of the road about 15 feet from the tracks. Both Andrews and the girl were still in the wreckage.
RUNS TO THE RIVER
Jacob Hockstra, 28 of 1016 Hartford Street, a witness, told police he pursued the fleeing DeWitt through a cornfield all the way to the river but was unable to catch up with him. After plunging into the water, the youth went down under the weight of his clothing.
City and State police, sheriff and civilians used boats and grappling hooks to recover the body. The civilians who aided the authorities were Bert Hathaway, Grover Phillips and James Ogborn.
DEWITT SURVIVORS
DeWitt was born at Americus December 31, 1925. Besides his parents he is survived by three sisters: Mrs Ray Booth, Battle Ground Rural Route 1, Mrs Leroy Fagan, Lafayette Rural Route 3, and Betty DeWitt at home.
In one of the most unusual accidents ever recorded in Tippecanoe county, a 16-year old Americus boy lost his life and two other young people were seriously injured late yesterday when crashed into the side of a northbound Monon passenger train No.6 at the "mantrap" crossing south of the city, after which the boy, apparently dazed from the car wreckage and ran more than 1,000 feet and plunged into the Wabash River where he was drowned.
The dead boy was John Frank DeWitt, son of Mr. and Mrs. John F. DeWitt of Americus, and the injured persons are Robert Andrews, 23 of 113 South Twenty-Eight Street, and Miss Clara Koning, 23 daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Koning of Vinton Street
RECOVER BODY
The youth's body was recovered from the river shortly after 6 o'clock in the evening after it had been in the water a little over two hours. The boy's long and brisk dash to the river is believed to have been due to a dazed condition resulting from a blow on the head. The body was taken to Rogers and Henderson funeral home and an examination of it by Coroner John S. Morrison and Deputy Harry E. Klepinger showed a sever scalp wound. It was indicated that the coroner's verdict would be that of accidental drowning.
Andrews and Miss Koning were taken to St. Elizabeth hospital in the city ambulance. Andrews was unconscious from a head injury and he also suffered other numerous cuts and bruises. Miss Koning suffered a compound leg fracture and head injuries. She is expected to recover, but the outcome of Andrews condition was in doubt last night.
HIT LOCOMOTIVE
The train due at the North Street Station at 2:45 o'clock, was running more than an hour late when the accident occurred. The car, belonging to Andrews, was driven by DeWitt with the girl seated between them. The train was drawn by two locomotives and the car crashed into the side of the first one, just behind the cylinder.
The car was going up the hill toward Elston. It was badly wrecked, the motor being torn out and hurled hundreds of feet. Police found the machine in the middle of the road about 15 feet from the tracks. Both Andrews and the girl were still in the wreckage.
RUNS TO THE RIVER
Jacob Hockstra, 28 of 1016 Hartford Street, a witness, told police he pursued the fleeing DeWitt through a cornfield all the way to the river but was unable to catch up with him. After plunging into the water, the youth went down under the weight of his clothing.
City and State police, sheriff and civilians used boats and grappling hooks to recover the body. The civilians who aided the authorities were Bert Hathaway, Grover Phillips and James Ogborn.
DEWITT SURVIVORS
DeWitt was born at Americus December 31, 1925. Besides his parents he is survived by three sisters: Mrs Ray Booth, Battle Ground Rural Route 1, Mrs Leroy Fagan, Lafayette Rural Route 3, and Betty DeWitt at home.
Gravesite Details
age 16. Died in Rural Indiana. Undertaker, Rogers and Henderson, Lafayette, Indiana.
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