Notes:
Easton Express, Saturday, November 2, 1935, Page 1
Two Phillipsburg Women Lose Lives in Auto Crash
Mrs. Eula H. Banner burns to Death, Miss Anna Brotzman Fatally
Hurt in Collision
Mrs. Eula Hill Banner, 50, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Hill,
92 Bullman street, Phillipsburg, was burned to death at 1:10
this morning while pinned in the wreckage of the automobile
she was driving after a collison with a coal truck at New Village.
Her campanion, Miss Anna Brotzman, 45, daughter of the late
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Brotzman, who resided with her sister,
Mrs. Richard Kroesen, 52 Washington Street, Phillipsburg was
so badly injured that she died at 2:45 this morning in Warren
Hospital.
Two Easton youths, William Lewis, 20, of 1135 Butler street
and Earl Young, 19, 1135 South Warren street who were hitch-hiking
their way home from a roller skating party at Broadway, were
in the rear seat. Young is in Warren Hospital in a serious
but not critical condition with a probable fracture of the
skull, severe face lacerations and abrasions and contusions
of the body. Lewis escaped with minor hurts and refused hospital
treatment.
The women were driving towards their homes. Near Broadway,
the two boys were picked up. While Mrs. Banner was descending
a slight grade about 200 feet east of Edison Road in New Village,
a two-and-a-half ton covered truck, containing about one ton
of coal, owned by Alex Sojka, Garfield N.J. and driven by Lester
Lesko, of the same address approached, going east.
The two vehicles sideswiped and the left side of the sedan
was torn off and jammed into the side of the large truck,
which continued for some distance after the crash.
Immediated after the collision the sedan burst into flames.
Other motorist who saw the accident or arrived soon afterward,
worked frantically to remove the victims. They mannaged to
get Miss Brotzman and the two boys out of the car before the
flames reached them but Mrs. Banner who had apparently been
rendered unconsicous by the impact of the collison, was so
firmly pinned in the wreckage that they could not rescue her.
Other motorists took the boys and Miss Brotzman to Warren
Hospital. Miss Brotzman died from a fractured skull an hour
and a quarter after having been admitted. She did not regain
consciousness.
State troopers Perry and Bondenstein of Washington station
stared an investigation of the case in which Coroner P. F.
hagerty of Philipsburg and Frank Stone, of Stewartsville are
joining.
The automobile driven by Mrs. Banner and owned by her father
was destroyed by the flames. The truck was considerably damaged.
The two boys in the car were in the habit of going to Broadway
twice a week and usually hitched-hike home. Young is the son
of Mrs. Blanche Young, of 432 South Warren Street, and Lewis
resided with his grandmother, Mrs. Martha Jones at 1135 Butler
Street.
Lesko, the driver of the truck and Lewis are both being detained
by the State police for questioning in connection with the
accident.
Miss Brotzman is survived only by her sister, Mrs. Kroesen
with whom he resided. She was a member of the Ladies' Auxiliary
of the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen.
Mrs. Banner is survived by her parents and by one sister,
Mrs. Ella Flynn of New York City. |
