Ruth Creager (1931)

CREAGER, LEWELLEN

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 4/13/2020 at 15:07:48

The Dallas County News
Adel, Iowa
July 1, 1931
Page 1, Column 5

Auto Crash Is Fatal to Ruth Creager

Young Woman from Dexter Fatally Hurt When Two Cars Meet Head ON Near Ortonville
Died in Perry Hospital the Following Morning

Mrs. Ruth Creager, wife of a mail carrier at Dexter, and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Lewellen, was fatally injured in an automobile accident a half mile north of Ortonville, on the Dallas Center road, Saturday night. She died the following morning at the Kings Daughters hospital in Perry.

The accident happened about 9:30 o’clock. Mrs. Creager was riding between Fred McMullen and Lawrence Slausen, in the front seat of a Whippet car. According to the story told officers, they were enroute to Dallas Center. McMullen was driving. A short distance north of Ortonville the Whippet crashed head-on into a Chevrolet coach driven by G. N. Aldrich of Waukee.

Both cars must have been moving at a rapid pace, as both were badly wrecked. Mrs. Creager’s chest was crushed, Slausen suffered a severe scalp wound and other injuries and McMullen was slightly hurt. All were taken to the hospital as soon as possible. Mr. Aldrich, who was alone in his car, was not seriously injured.

Sheriff Knee visited the scene of the wreck a few minutes later, but as yet no attempt has been made to fix the blame for the fatality. A bloody pop bottle which had contained liquor was found in the grass near the scene, where it had evidently been thrown.

Funeral services for Mrs. Creager were held at Dexter yesterday.

At the request of relatives, Coroner L. H. DeFord will conduct an inquest here, probably the latter part of this week, or as soon as McMullen and Slausen are able to leave the hospital.