KERN, Gladys 1916-1931

KERN

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 8/29/2015 at 20:54:29

14 Year Old Girl Killed In Auto Collision

Gladys Kern Meets Sudden Death When Car Collides With Truck

Truck Driver Hurt; Condition Serious

Mr. and Mrs. Kern Were Taken To The Hospital To Have Injuries Dressed

Gladys Kern, 14 year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Archie Kern, was killed instantly in an automobile collision at a road intersection shortly after noon last Friday. Both Mr. and Mrs. Kern received injuries which at first were believed to be very serious. Cleo Briley, driver of the truck, received a skull fracture and other injuries about the head and chest and for the first two days it was not believed that he could recover, but he is getting better and has been taken to his home at Boone.

Mr. and Mrs. Kern were taken to Deaconess hospital at Marshalltown. Mr. Kern had one collar bone broken and had some bruises about his head and face. Mrs. Kern had the large bone in her left arm shattered, and she received a cut on the scalp. Mr. Kern was able to return home Saturday and Mrs. Kern is still at the hospital.

The truck driver was hauling gravel for the Fred Bennethum Company who are filling a contract to gravel roads for Grundy county. The gravel for the Grundy roads is being taken from a pit in Hardin county a short distance across the county line. The truck driver was going east with his load and he was coming down a grade and going at a good clip at the road intersection. Mr. Kern and his family were going south in their Ford touring car with a trailer attached. There is a blind corner at this point and neither the drive of the truck or Mr. Kern who was driving his car saw the danger until they got too close to avoid it. Whether the Ford car hit the truck and glanced sideways or whether the truck caught the Ford on the side of the car where Gladys was riding is not known positively. Mr. Kern believes that the truck struck him. The truck after it struck turned completely over and was standing upright and facing in an opposite direction when it came to a stop. The driver was thrown out and was standing by the cab in a dazed condition when help came. Blood was running in streams from his mouth and head.

Others in the collision who received injuries were Kinzle Taylor from Waterloo, who was cut about the face and he received a fractured rib. Mrs. Taylor and Mavis and Oscar Kern were only stunned and bruised. Kenzle Taylor is still at the hospital.

Mr. Kern and Mr. Taylor were riding in the front seat of the Ford car. Gladys, Mrs. Taylor and Mavis were riding in the back seat. Mrs. Kern and the son Oscar were in the trailer. The side of the car where Gladys was riding was badly caved in. It was this blow to the side of the car that proved fatal to the 14 year old girl.

The Ford car when it came to a stop was alongside of a telephone pole near the fence. All of the occupants of the car were thrown out. Gladys was lying in the pasture near the road. Both Mr. and Mrs. Kern were unconscious for some time and it was several hours before they understood fully what had happened. The son Oscar was stunned and frightened and was running away from the scene of the accident when help came.

The family were on their way to spend a day fishing in the Iowa river near Union.

The body of the dead girl was brought to the Coffman mortuary in Grundy Center where it was prepared for burial.

Funeral services conducted by Rev. R. B. Fisher were held at the Presbyterian church in Grundy Center Monday afternoon and there was a very large attendance.

Gladys Elizabeth Kern
(By Rev. R. B. Fisher)

Gladys Elizabeth Kern, daughter of Archie and Vera Kern, was born in Grundy Center, Iowa, Nov. 24th, 1916, and died July 17th, 1931, at the age of 14 years, 7 months and 23 days. She leaves to mourn her departure her parents, one sister, Miss Mavis, and one brother, Oscar. Her departure was through a tragedy by an automobile accident occurring last Friday while the whole family together were taking a short trip for the day. Others were with them and the tragedy was wide-spread including a number that were hurt. Gladys had finished the rural school course through the eighth grade and was expecting to enter high school at Grundy Center this coming fall. She was a member of the Sunday school of the First Presbyterian church.

Miss Gladys was of a sunny disposition, full of song and good cheer. Her life and sudden passing away is a challenge to all of us to be ready, for in the very days when we think of it least we may be called to pass beyond.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 23 July 1931, pg 1