The Burlington Hawk-Eye, front page, July 28, 1932; Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa
W. F. BROEKER KILLED IN CRASH
SON SAYS TRUCK SIDESWIPED CAR, FAILED TO STOP
Inquest Will Be Held By Coroner Prugh Today, 1 P.M.
William F. Broeker, 37, farmer living near Morning Sun, was killed when his automobile turned over after it is said to have been sideswiped by a truck which failed to stop in the 2600 block on Sunnyside avenue shortly after 5:30 last night.
A gravel truck proceeding in the same direction struck the front wheel of the Broeker car, Orville Broeker, son of man who was fatally hurt, told The Hawk-Eye. He was riding in the front seat with his father who was driving.
Son, Daughter Unhurt.
Mr. Broeker's son and his daughter, Leora, 18, the only others in the car at the time, were not injured. They were driving west on Sunnyside when the truck started to pass them and it apparently cut in to avoid hitting another auto coming from the opposite direction, Orville declared.
The accident took place front of the J. A. Boden residence, 2600 Sunnyside avenue. Broeker's car, a coach, went over the curbing and parking, climbing part of the west embankment at the Boden residence, before turning over. Cement steps leading to the house were chipped by the auto. The car was lying on its top, facing the north following the accident. It was considerably damaged.
Hub Cap Torn Off
The left front hub cap was torn from the car, and was found more than 20 feet from the place where the auto overturned, police said. They also said that the left front rim had a dent in it, but whether or not the dent was made by a truck, they did not know. The tire on this wheel was flat, police stated following the crash, if the tire was without air prior to the accident, the son and daughter did not know it, they said.
Discovery of the flat tire might mean that the accident was caused by a blowout police stated. Little credence is given this theory, however, and police are working on the assumption that the car was sideswiped.
Pulled From Beneath Auto.
Mr. Broeker was pulled from beneath the car by Mrs. W. C. Beckman who lives across the street from the Boden borne. The son and daughter crawled out without help.
The Morning Sun man was still breathing when pulled, from the car, but died within a few minutes without regaining consciousness. Death resulted from a crushed skull. Coroner B. A. Prugh said last night
Son Blames Truck.
The son said a "gravel truck cut In front of us, striking our left front fender or wheel."
The daughter said she was lying down in the back seat of the car and did not know anything was wrong until the auto was struck.
"We were going slow and another car was coming toward us," Orville declared. "The truck started to pass us and I guess the driver thought he was caught between us and the other car and tried to cut in."
Witnesses Describe Crash.
Police located several eye witnesses to the crash, among them Mrs. Beckman, W. C. Beckman, and Lynas Zachmeyer of 1201 South Seventh street.
Mrs. Beckman was watering flowers in her front lawn and saw the Broeker car coming toward her. It was traveling slowly, she said. She did not notice any truck. Mr. Beckman said he noticed no truck, but saw the Broeker auto coming toward his residence. "It was wobbling as if it might have a flat tire," police quoted him as saying.
Mr. Zachmeyer was at the filling station on the south side of Sunnyside, several feet east of the scene of the crash. He told police that the only truck he saw was an orange colored paneled light truck.
Police Chief Frank A. Dorner and Captain Robert F. Goodman lead in the investigation of the accident. At an early hour this morning they had been unable to locate any truck which might have figured in the accident Their first report of the accident came from Norval Prugh, deputy coroner, after he had brought the body of Broeker to the hospital.
Inquest Today
Coroner Prugh conferred with police last night and announced that an inquest will be held at Prugh's chapel at 1 p.m. today.
Broeker's body was removed to the chapel. No arrangements for funeral services had been made last night.
His son and daughter were taken to the home of their aunt, Mrs. Ferdinand L. Fehseke, 1610 Lincoln street,
Attended Funeral Here
Mr. Broeker and his two children had attended the funeral of his nephew, Harry D. Taeger, yesterday afternoon and were en route home when the accident took place. Mr. Broeker was born in Burlington, October 1, 1875, but later lived at Prairie Grove and Yarmouth before moving to Morning Sun 25 years ago. He had lived near there ever since. He was a member of Trinity church near Mt. Union, and his home was three miles south and one mile east of Morning Sun.
In addition to his son and daughter who were with him yesterday, Mr. Broeker is survived by another son, Wallace, 20, of Morning Sun, and a daughter, Mrs. Clara Stout of Danville. His wife and another son preceded him in death.
The body will be taken to Morning Sun today by Roy Pierce of the Pierce Undertaking parlors following the inquest. Funeral arrangements will be announced later.
The fatal accident last night was the first to occur in Burlington since last December, according to police records.