Pana, IL Bus Wreck, Dec 1928

16 Injured In Bus Wreck at Pana

Wheel Leaves Slab, Bus Overturns in Ditch as Driver Fails to Regain

Fear Two May Die as Result of Injuries and Exposure; Thirty Passengers in Southbound Chicago-St. Louis Passenger Coach

(Special to The Herald)

Pana, Dec. 27.-Sixteen persons were injured, four seriously, early Thursday morning when a southbound Chicago-St. Louis bus left the hard road slab and overturned in a deep ditch three miles north of here on route 2. Two of the injured may die.

The most seriously injured are:

Miss Fannie Bonnell, 28, 2241 Cass Avenue, St. Louis. Chest crushed.
Albert Kuffell, Chicago, chest crushed.
Charles Schley, 1246 North Dearborn, Chicago, cuts and severe bruises.
Charles Graham, 818 Bowen Avenue, Chicago, severe cut on left leg, bruises.
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Slayden, Detroit, minor cuts and bruises.

These are the most seriously injured. The other persons in the accident were only slightly cut and bruised although all suffered from exposure.

When Left Slab

The accident happened when the driver, Ted Bernethy, lost control of the bus on a straight stretch of road. One wheel of the bus left the slab and in attempting to regain the slab and driver lost control of the bus.

It skidded through a guard rail and landed in a deep drainage ditch at the side of the road. There were 30 passengers in the bus at the time of the accident. They were given emergency treatment and taken to Pana hospitals where they received further attention.

Fear Pneumonia

Miss Bonnell is the most seriously injured. In the Huber Memorial hospital in Pana, where she was taken, doctors said that her chest was crushed. She was barely able to breathe and attending physicians feared pneumonia.

Albert Kuffell, Chicago, is also in a critical condition. His chest is crushed and he is suffering from other internal injuries which make his recovery doubtful. He is barely conscious.

The other persons injured in the accident are expected to recover, although all are suffering from exposure.

The Ni-Sun Co. which operates the bus line, had sent a relief bus to Pana Thursday morning to pick up the passengers stranded by the accident.

Decatur Evening Herald, Decatur, IL 27 Dec 1928

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Injuries And Pneumonia Are Fatal To Bus Crash Victim

(Special to The Herald.)
Pana, Dec. 28.-Miss FANNIE BONNETT, 30, 2241 Cass Avenue, St. Louis, Mo., died in Huber Memorial hospital here Friday from injuries sustained when a Ni-Sun Chicago-St. Louis bus on which she was a passenger left the hard road near here Thursday and plunged into a ditch.

Miss Bonnett’s chest was crushed, and she had suffered internal injuries. Her clothes were water soaked, and quick pneumonia set in almost at once. Death took place at 12:10 midnight.

Other persons in the bus crash were considerably better Friday morning. Albert Kuffell, Chicago man who is Little Sanatorium suffering from fractured ribs, cuts and bruises, and who was, next to Miss Bonnett, considered most seriously injured, was much improved.

An inquest into Miss Bonnett’s death was held Friday afternoon. She is survived by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Bonnett of St. Louis, three brothers, William, Joseph and Morris of St. Louis, and one sister, Miss Edith Bonnett of St. Louis. The funeral is to be in St. Louis on Saturday in Berger chapel, with burial in Chesed Shai Meth cemetery, St. Louis.

The big bus was lifted out of the ditch Friday morning and taken to St. Louis.

Decatur Evening Herald, Decatur, IL 28 Dec 1928
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Transcribed by June. Thanks June!