OBIT: Dorothy Jane BEACHY, 1932, of interest in Somerset County, PA

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

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DOROTHY JANE BEACHY

Little School Girl Killed by Being Struck by an Automobile

  GRANTSVILLE, Md. - Dec. 28, After alighting from a school bus near her 
grandparents' home, Dorothy Jane Beachy, eight-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. 
Forrest Beachy, residing near Avilton, was struck by an automobile and instantly 
killed at 4:15 o'clock last Thursday afternoon, on the National Highway, two 
miles west of Grantsville.
  The driver of the car, Harry O. Younkin, of Grantsville, was exonerated by a 
coroner's jury, following an inquest Friday night in Grantsville.  The inquest 
was conducted by State's Attorney Walter W. Dawson, of Oakland.  Gilead 
Broadwater was foreman of the jury, which found that the mishap was apparently 
unavoidable.
  The child attended a rural school and had been residing with her grandparents.  
The bus, operated by Scott Duckworth, stopped in front of the Beacy home, a 
regular bus stop, and the child alighted on the right side.  She walked around 
the bus and started to cross the road when Younkin's car struck her.  She was 
dragged about 75 feet before Younkin could get his car stopped.
  Younkin immediately stopped the car and took the child's body to Grantsville.  
His uncle, George Younkin, and his daughter, Eleanor, were with him.  They had 
been visiting in the Cove and were returning home when the child was struck.
  Dr. N. R. Davis, who was summoned, said she was instantly killed.  Her skull 
was fractured and her legs and arms were shattered by the force of the impact.  
Besides her parents she is survived by several brothers and sisters.
  Officer George J. Miller, of the State Police, investigated the accident, with 
the assistance of Garrett County authorities.
  Justice of the Peace Enos Folk acted as Coroner.  The jury consisted of Gilead 
Broadwater, foreman; Harold Glotfelty, Herbert Layman, Hayward Broadwater, G. W. 
Diefenbach, Emerson Sebold, Fay Miller, H. C. Edwards, W. D. Mullinix, Sylvan 
Durst, Henry F. Durst and Asa Fresh.  Upon completion of the evidence offered, 
the jury pronounced a verdict of accidental death.
  The funeral services were held on Saturday afternoon in the Reformed Church 
and were largely attended.  Rev. Dr. Bash, officiated, burial in the Grantsville 
Cemetery followed the services in the church.
  This sad occurance cast a decided gloom upon the community, dampening the 
Christmas festivities which all expected to enjoy.
  The general feeling in the community is that such accidents are unnecessary 
and can be easily prevented by drivers being more cautious in approaching school 
busses.  Also that bus drivers and school authorities could also help by 
continuous safety instruction and deputizing some of the older pupils to alight 
from the buses first at discharge stops to see that pupils do not scatter out 
before a clear vision of the road is had.  The hope is expressed in many 
quarters that a community conference will be called to go into the matter of 
safety for school children.  Would not this be a fitting undertaking for the 
County Superintendent of Schools?

Meyersdale Republican, December 29, 1932