Bernard Groot (~1919-1945)

GROOT

Posted By: Alan Nicholson - volunteer
Date: 5/25/2014 at 23:00:47

O'Brien County Bell, 7 Mar 1945, p. 1

Man Killed in Car Collision
Bernard Groot of Everly Breaks Neck

Bernard Groot, 26 year old carpenter of Everly, received a broken neck and died shortly after being taken to a Dr. when he was blinded by the lights of an approaching car and drove his 1929 Ford Tudor into two stalled cars. The accident occurred on the paved highway No. 18, ¾ mile east of Hartley at about 11:45 p.m. March 6th.

Roy Henaman, of Spencer, home from California was driving his brother Vernon's car accompanied by a third brother, Pfc. Howard Henaman of recent return from Alaska and three girls, Helen Armhurst, Spencer, Sally Loberg, Emmetsburg, and Phoebe Gile, of Ruthven. They had stopped on the shoulder to look at a tire and slid off into the ditch. Wm. Nelson, farmer from Primghar, his wife Ruth and sister-in-law, Loraine Steuck, stopped to help out the stalled car.

At this same time the car driven by the victim approached at a speed estimated at 40 to 45 miles per hour by his companions Edward Meyerdick and Jim Pettit both of Everly. They were blinded according to their statement by the bright lights of an unidentified approaching car and hit into the stalled cars.

The people in the two stalled cars had been at the dance in Hartley earlier in the evening. They were not apparently under the influence of liquor nor were those in the fatal car that collided with them.

Dr. J. C. Peterson stated that Bernard Groot died of a broken neck sustained when he was partially hurled through the side window of the car and then caught by the upsetting vehicle. Edward Meyerdick received scalp lacerations cut the skull in 2 places and severe bruises. Total damage to cars was roughly estimated at $300. The two stalled cars were hauled about 20 feet by the force of the collision.