DEATH BY AUTO ACCIDENT

Fails to Make Turn and Crashes into Embankment, Wrecking the Auto. Death Follows in a Few Minutes

ACCIDENT AT DANA CORNER

An automobile driven by Michael Kelly of near Florence, crashed into the embankment at Dana hill corner early Wednesday morning, completely wrecking the car and wiping out the life of the driver.

The young man, accompanied by Leo Fitzgerald of near Nashville, had spent the evening at the Legion carnival which was held at King’s pavilion north of Blair, and was returning home at around two o’clock in the morning. It is reported that the car was being driven at a rapid speed, and when reaching the corner at Dana hill, Kelly failed to make the turn with the result already mentioned.

The ambulance was called, and Kelly was rushed to the hospital where he died in a few minutes. Fitzgerald, his companion, escaped with but a few minor injuries.

Deceased was the son of Thomas Kelly, living in the Garryowen district near Nashville, and is of a highly respected family.

The body will be taken to Omaha for interment.

#2 Printed in the March 19, 1931 Pilot-Tribune

FATALLY INJURED IN HIGHWAY ACCIDENT

MICHAEL KELLY DIES FROM INJURIES IN MISHAP

Michael Kelly, 21, was fatally injured shortly before 2:00 o’clock yesterday morning when the light coupe he was driving overturned as he attempted to turn the Dana college corner on the Bench road at a high rate of speed. Kelly, whose home was in Florence, was not familiar with the road. Leo Fitzgerald of Omaha, a cousin of Kelly, who was also in the car, escaped with minor injuries. Realizing that his cousin would be unable to make the turn, Fitzgerald opened the door of the coupe planning to jump, but as the car swerved around the turn he was thrown out. Fitzgerald landed on the graveled road, rolled over and over and his clothing was badly torn. The two Omaha youths were returning to Omaha after attending the St. Patrick’s celebration at King’s pavilion sponsored by the Stanley E. Hain post of the American Legion.

Kelly after the crash managed to extricate himself from the wreckage and make his way to the middle of the road. Fitzgerald, dazed, searched the wreckage before discovering his cousin collapsed in the roadway. The latter stated that they had been traveling at a high rate of speed.

John Leehy, young farmer of north of Florence, who with Miss Charlotte Maher was also returning from the celebration, was the first to reach the scene of the accident. They took the injured man to the Blair hospital where he died without regaining consciousness, fifteen minutes later. Physicians stated after an examination that Kelly’s skull was crushed and that he suffered internal injuries.

A coincidence associated with the tragedy was the fact that Leehy, first to reach the accident, was also a cousin of Kelly, while John Fitzgerald of Omaha, the second to reach the accident, was still another cousin. Kelly, who is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Kelly, farmers of north of Florence, of the Garryowen vicinity, has been employed as a filling station attendant at Florence.

Kelly’s mother and father and other relatives living in Garryowen were notified immediately of the accident and came to Blair early yesterday. They directed that the body, which had been prepared for burial, be sent to Omaha.

Kelly, who was an only child, was well acquainted in Blair, frequently attending social functions in this vicinity.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

FindaGrave #134348052