Date : 31 Jul 1939
Location : Graceland Cemetery, Racine, WI
Funeral services for Lucille Ward, 17, who died at 8:30 a. m. Friday at Burlington Memorial hospital, will be held at 9 a. m. Monday at St. Mary's church, Burlington. Rev. Edward Kersting, pastor of St. Mary's will officiate and burial will be in Graceland cemetery, Racine.
Coroner E. B. Yanny, who was in Burlington Friday morning to investigate the death of Miss Ward, who was one of five persons riding in a car which turned turtle near the Laughran farm, west of Rochester on County Trunk D, Sunday Afternoon, said that pulmonary embolism was the direct cause of the young lady's death. She had sustained a compound fracture of the left ankle in the accident.
Miss Ward was born in Racine Sept. 13, 1921. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Ward. Following the death of her father she made her home for seven years with Mr. and Mrs. Al Wiener, Burlington. Two years ago, when her mother remarried, she went to Waterford to live. Surviving her death are her mother, Mrs. Ernest Hertel, Waterford, her paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. George Ward, Racine, and her maternal grandfather, John Hoffman of Honey Creek. Miss Ward and her companions had been visiting at the Hoffman home Sunday and it was when they were returning from this visit that the fatal accident occurred.
Robert Gutzman, 18, 1645 Charles street, Racine, driver of the car told Coroner Yanny Friday morning that just prior to the accident he "turned out for something," and the car started to weave. He said he did not apply the brakes because he believed this would make matters worse, but did remove his foot from the accelerator. He said that the car kept on weaving, and that beyond that he could not remember.
Although he had a special attachment on the foot brake which allowed it to be operated by hand, Robert told the Coroner that he could use his feet to operate both clutch and brake, and that the lever was merely an added safety precaution. He obtained a special drivers license when he was 14, after taking a driving test, he said. This license was renewed two years ago.
At the scene of the accident Yanny found that the car had apparently rolled a considerable distance, this being indicated by marks on the pavement. At Graf's garage, Waterford, where the car was taken, it was learned that only one tire, the left rear, was flat when the car was brought in. The car itself is a complete wreck. Coroner Yanny said on leaving Burlington that he would confer with the district attorney regarding the case. He did not indicate whether there would be inquest. No actual eye witnesses to the accident have been discovered.
Racine Journal Times - Jul 29, 1939
