Eilander, Kenneth Dale – 1953-1954

EILANDER

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 7/13/2021 at 21:35:30

Newton Child Dies of Auto Injuries
First City Car Death In 5 Years
A 14-months-old boy, Kenneth Dale Eilander, this morning became the first traffic fatality in Newton since 1949 and Jasper county’s fifth of this year when he died at 7:30 a.m. in Skiff Memorial hospital.
The youngster was injured about 4;30 P.M. Sunday when a car driven by Cleland C. Evans, 66, 415 Third avenue East, backed over him in a driveway next to the boy’s home in Leepers Addition.
Kenneth, the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Eilander, died of a fractured skull, brain injury and broken ribs.
Investigating the accident this morning were three officers, Highway Patrolmen Andre Cartensen, Glenn McDole and City Police Sergeant Robert Olson.
They said this morning that Evans, driver of the car, was in the Leepers Addition area Sunday afternoon looking for a trailer which he had seen advertised for sale.
As he drove by the Eilander home, he saw Mr. Eilander and Fred Blake of Des Moines, both acquaintances of his, standing in the Eilander yard. Evans then drove into the driveway of the Leo Thurman home which is adjacent to the Eilander property.
After visiting with the men for a time, Evans started to back slowly out of the drive. The little boy, who was playing with other children in the yard, had apparently been near the rear of the car. The first that witnesses saw of him was when he appeared in front of the car after the right front wheel of the auto passed over his chest.
Evans and the lad’s parents rushed the child to Skiff hospital where he remained until 7:30 a.m., this morning when he died. Due to the confusion after the accident, police were not notified of the injury until about 7:30 p.m. Sunday.
City police records this morning showed that the last fatal traffic mishap within the city limits was Sept. 21, 1949, when Jerry McCombs, 6, was killed when struck by a truck on Highway 6.
Funeral rites for the Eilander boy will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. in Morgan-Loehr funeral home. Officiating will be the Rev. Benson B. Compton, of Assembly of God church, and burial will be in Newton Union cemetery.
Kenneth is survived by his parents; two brothers, Ronald and Larry; and four sisters, Linda, Judy, Alice and Rosemary.
The lad was born in Newton Feb. 1, 1953.
Source: Newton (IA) Daily News; April 5, 1954, page 1