Port Arthur, TX Car Wreck, Jun 1936

Four Injured, Three Unhurt As Two Autos Overturn After Crash

Two Machines Badly Damaged At Intersection Of Val Verde And Port Neches Highway; Occupants Miraculously Escape Sudden Death

Seven persons, two of them small children, miraculously escaped serious injury or death at 12:35 p.m. Saturday when two automobiles collided at the intersection of Val Verde road and Port Neches highway, overturned and were badly smashed.

Leon McGrew, about 24, of Port Neches and a Texas Company employee there, suffered fracture of two bones one forearm and cuts and bruises: Miss Lois Woods, 15, of Silsbee suffered a gash in her thigh requiring several stitches: and Elvin Kay and Melvin Ray Franklin, 18-year old twins of Port Neches were cut and bruised but not seriously hurt.

Three others, Bradley Yoakum, 15, 1236 Thomas boulevard, Carroll Quinn, 6, and Rose Marie Quinn, 8, children of Mr. and Mrs. C.L. Quinn of the same address, were unscratched.

Private cars took the three young men to St. Mary’s hospital for treatment, while a Clayton and Thompson ambulance took Miss Woods there. Following medical attention all were released except McGrew who remained for further treatment. Yoakum and the two children were taken to their homes from the accident scene in private cars.

Yoakum was driving a sedan belonging to his brother-in-law, C.L. Quinn, and with him were Miss Woods and the Quinn children. They were traveling toward Port Arthur on the Val Verde road when their car met the one in which McGrew and the Franklin twins were riding.

Describes Crash

Young Yoakum said he did not think he was traveling fast, and that he did not see the other car moving toward Port Neches, until just before the crash. He said he thought the front of his car struck the other broadside or near its front end. His car was spun around and turned on its side in the ditch while the other leaped the ditch and came to rest against a barbed wire fence with four wheels in the air.

Safety glass in the Yoakum auto was credited with saving occupants from serious cuts. It was believed Miss Woods received the gash in her leg from the door handle. Glass in the other car accounted for the painful cuts on the faces and bodies of the three young men.

H.E. Williams, I.J. Judice and a Mr. Vandenburg who live nearby rushed to the scene of the accident and helped extract the injured persons and the children from the smashed vehicles.

Was Visiting Brother

Miss Woods has been visiting her brother and sister-in-law. Mr. and Mrs. H.A. Woods, 1236 Thomas boulevard. Yoakum lives in a second house at that address with his brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. Quinn. He is employed at the Gulf Refining Company.

The Franklin twins are sons of Rev. and Mrs. J.W. Franklin of Port Neches. Where Rev. Franklin is pastor of the Central Baptist church. The two boys graduated in June from Port Neches high school with high scholastic honors and their pictures were published in The News last Sunday. They are now students in Port Arthur College.

The automobile they were driving at the time of the crash was owned by a sister, Miss Melvin Lillie Franklin, an employee of Sears-Roebuck in Port Arthur.

Port Arthur News, Port Arthur, TX 28 Jun 1936

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Transcribed by June. Thanks June!