Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 127, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 May 1911 — CAR TURNED TURTLE; A FORTUNATE ESCAPE. [ARTICLE]

CAR TURNED TURTLE; A FORTUNATE ESCAPE.

Mrs. H. D. Jones Suffers Fracture of Two Ribs In Accident Occurring Sunday Evening. A Fiat car drivenby the owner, H. D. Jones, a Chicago real estate dealer, and in which his wife and her brother, E. H. Zeigler, were riding, was overturned and quite badly wrecked Sunday evening at about 7 o’clock, at the northern outskirts of Rensselaer. One of the front wheels of the car was broken and apparently the flange about the hub' was defective, although all the wheels were new, having just been placed on the car before this trip was begun.

When near the residence of William Coen, on north road, the car struck a large rrak in the road, and swerved to the right. Mr. Jones was unable to control its movements and it ran straight across the ditch and turned turtle. Mr. Jones and Mr. Zeigler were seated in the front seat, Mrs. Jones was seated behind. The car is a large seven-passenger machine, and as it struck the ditch it turned entirely over, and rested on its top across the ditch with the three passengers on the inside. Fortunately for them tne car bridged the ditch and there was some eighteen inches of space in the ditch beneath the tgr. They all fell into this space and escaped serious injury. Mrs. Jones suffered the fracture of two ribs on the left side and all of the party were some bruised. They were brought to Rensselaer and all left on the train for Indianapolis this afternoon. The car was placed in the Maxwell garage and a new wheel was sent for. The car is of foreign make and consequently more difficult to get repairs for.

Mr. Jones states that he was not driving fast and that he is no novice either at driving an autd., Himself and wife and her brother were oh their way to Indianapolis to attend the races and while they are disappointed at the misfortune they met, they are all mighty glad that the accident did not result worse for them. Mr. Jones said, “It is almost a miracle that we were not ail killed. Had the car not bridged across the ditch it seems that we should have ail been pinned be neath it and crushed to death.’’