AUTO ROLLS IN CREEK, SIX GIRLS KILLED.

Union Mills, Ia., July 17 -- (UP) -- A partially washed out road was blamed today for the death of six girls, ranging in age from six to 16, whose automobile overturned in a creek.
Four of the victims were sisters. The other two were their cousins. A third cousin, five-year-old IVA MAE VAN KAMPEN, escaped injury.
Their car rolled backwards down a hill on a muddy sideroad yesterday, shot over an embankment and overturned in a tributary of the Skunk River.
Coroner Leroy Catterson said the road had been washed out by recent rains, but was wide enough for a car to travel.
The four sisters who died in the accident were daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald McMahan, a farm couple. They were GERALDINE, 15; ROWENA, 14; ILA RUTH, 12; and CAROLYN, 6.
The cousins who died were MONA McMAHAN, 15, and HELEN VAN KAMPEN, 16, sister of IVA MAE.

The Daily Register Harrisburg Illinois 1948-07-17
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!