Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 April 1917 — PREMIER AUTO TURNED OVER [ARTICLE]

PREMIER AUTO TURNED OVER

Machine Smashed But Escaped Serious Injury. One of four new SI,BOO Premier autos being driven from Indianapolis to Chicago was practically ruined at about 4 p. m. Sunday when it turned over at the corner near the Alfred Donnelly farm about two miles north of this city. 'HL ft. Snodgrass, who was driving the car, was severely cut and bruised, but was able to continue on to Chicago on the 6:50 train Sunday evening. The four cars passed through here shortly before the accident and were traveling at a high rate of speed. Snodgrass was driving the rear car and as he neared the Donnelly corner, the other three

cars having passed the corner, another car came from the east and turned south. According to Snodgrass this car was going at about thirty miles au hour and in making the turn kept to the left side of the road. This necessitated his pulling to the left to avoid running into the other car, and in so ' doing the Premier ran off the I grade, there being a drop at this ; point of about eight inches. Every spoke in the left rear wheel broke off as the car struck this offset, and the machine skidded and turned over. Snodgrass A thought he was thrown through the windshield, but it is doubtful if he knows just what happened. At any rate both glasses in the windshield were smashed and he received several scratches about tho arms and face. The most serious injury was to his left wrist and it was necessary to tie several arteries that had been cut by the glass. The top of the machine was broken, and the steering wheel was broken off, the radiator and hood smashed in and tho remainder of the car broken and damaged until it was practically worthless. It is not known who was in tho car that came from the east as it did not stop, perhaps did not notice the accident. However, three cars had passed the corner and the driver probably thought that was all, and held* the left side of the turn for safety. It would appear that the drivers of both cars were somewhat at fault. Sam Karnowsky and his family were at the corner when the accident happened. Ho had seen the. Premiers coming at high speed and had pulled to the side of the road and stopped. . After the accident Mr. Karnowsky went to the aid of the injured man. He then called a physician and the injured driver was brought to the hospital and his wounds#. dressed.

Snodgrass was not unfamiliar with the road he hid passed ' over the same route a week ago Sunday with, another consignment of new cars. At that time one of the Premiers ran into an Overland car from Rantoul, Illinois, just this side of Remington. The Donnelly corner is exceptionally dangerous unless extraordinary care is exercised, and for | the safety of local autoists The Democrat suggests that warning signs be erected in both directions from the turn. The statement of Snodgrass that the Chalmers car coming from the east was making the turn at a speed of thirty miles an hour is too silly for utterance. It is down grade, through a cut that obstructs the view at this corner and the turn is sharp. A car traveling at even twenty miles an hour would land over in the field on the west side of the road in turning the corner. ? The Premier autos were bding driven at a speed of perhaps fifty miles an hour, and no heed was being taken of anything but hitting the high places. The drivers ought

to have been arrested and heavily fined for fast driving, and It was a miracle that the car coming from the east was not struck broadside and every occupant in it killed. Warning signs should be put at this corner by all means for the protection of she traveling public rather than, the speed maniacs who have no regard for the rights of others.