NEWS:  Fatal Accident on Cape Horn Curve Samuel KAMINSKY killed and Son, Harold 
KAMINSKY injured, 1932, of interest in Somerset County, PA and Cambria County, 
PA 

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library.
Transcribed and proofread by: Richard Boyer.

Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/
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SAMUEL KAMINSKY

Father Killed and Son Injured

Fatal Accident on Cape Horn Curve - Samuel and Harold Kaminsky Victims

  Cape Horn Curve on the Transylvania Trail, U.S. Highway Route No. 219, about 
half-way between the Western Maryland viaduct and the B. & O. coaling station, 
between Meyersdale and Garrett, was the scene of a fatal automobile accident 
about 4:15 o'clock this (Thursday) afternoon.
  Samuel Kaminsky, aged 63, an insurance agent of 109 Iron Street, Johnstown, 
was fatally injured and his son, Harold, aged 28, a lawyer, of Johnstown, was 
painfully hurt about the face and chest.
  Attorney Kaminsky had some business to look after in Meyersdale, and drove 
over from Johnstown to this city this afternoon in a Chevrolet closed car, 
bringing his father along for the ride.  A friend accompanied them as far as 
Somerset.  They were to pick him up there on their return trip, at 4 p.m.
  It was after 4 o'clock when they got away from Meyersdale, and being in a 
hurry and unfamiliar with the road, the driver, Harold Kaminsky, struck the 
sharp Cape Horn Curve, which describes a semi-circle around the point of a hill, 
at a rapid rate of speed. It is impossible for any one to see a car coming 
around the curve in the opposite direction before the two cars are almost even 
with each other.
  At the same time that the Kaminsky car started around the curve from the east, 
Edgar Berkley of Meyersdale was rounding the curve from the west, with a large 
State Highway Department truck loaded with shale.  The truck was on the outside 
of the curve where it belonged.  Kaminsky's car swerved too far outward and 
crashed into the truck before the driver was aware of its presence.
  The sedan was completely wrecked by the impact and the truck was damaged to 
some extent, and came to a standstill in its tracks in its proper place.  
Berkley, the driver, escaped injury.
  The elder Kaminsky was in a dying condition when extricated from the wrecked 
car.  He was rushed to the Wenzel Hospital in Meyersdale where he expired at 5 
p.m.  Harold Kaminsky was cut on the forehead and nose and had his chest badly 
bruised, but his injuries were not serious.  After first aid treatment he was 
able to proceed to his home in Johnstown.  He suffered most from shock caused by 
the tragic death of his father.
  County Detective Fred P. Hare, Mrs. Emily Fluck, County Coroner, and Private 
Morrison of the Somerset sub-station of the State Highway Patrol were promptly 
at the scene of the wreck to investigate the tragedy.  Their observations 
completely exonerated Edgar Berkley, the truck driver.
  The manner in which Samuel Kaminsky met his death was so evident that Coroner 
Fluck decided no formal inquest was necessary.
  The curve on which the accident occurred is a very dangerous one.  It was 
there that former Burgess Valentine Gress, several years ago was seriously 
injured by a car skidding off the road and striking him while he was at work as 
road overseer at the side of the road.  Mr. Gress has not been able to do any 
work since the accident and consequently had to give up the position which he 
had held for many years.

Meyersdale Republican, October 20, 1932