The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-07-17
|DR, HOWELL HEFL|N
 HURTBY MOTOR GAR
Elwell Eastman Sustains a
 Severe Nervous Shock
WERE RIDING IN BUGGY
The Automobile Which Struck Vehicle When Turning Corner Was Driven By Robert McDavid, Jr., and
 Both Make Statements

It was learned yesterday that Dr. How ell T. Hefin met with an automobile ac- cfdent Friday afternoon in which he and his companion Elwell Eastman, narrowly escaped death. By a miraculous chance of fortune both Dr. Hefiin and MT. East man, who Is an elderly man, esc>>ed with few cuts and scratches. although Dr. Heflin was so effected by the accident that he has been dazed ever since and unable to attend to his patients while MT. Eastman is confined to his home, 1926 Rush avenue, suffering from the nervous shock and excitement.
 The accident happened at the corner of Twenty first street and Seventh avenue, North about 1:30 o'clock Friday after noon, when Dr. Hefiin's horse and buggy were struck by motor car owned and driven by Robert McDavid, Jr.
 pr. Hef1in was thrown from his buggy to the ground, striking the pavement on his head and right shoulder. The car, 1t is stated, struck the left front wheel of the buggy and completely demolished it, so that that side of the buggy dropped to the ground and threw Dr. Heflin out right III lTOul Ol lne dulOIlOplie. MI. Iootiiidii was not thrown from the buggy.
 When seen last night pr. Heflin told of the accident as follows: "Mr. Eastman, who is an old gentleman and rather fee ble, had been to North Birmingham with me to see one of my patients. AS we were returning toward town coming down Sev- enth avenue, car passed us going the opposite direction, which, I believe, is the IL. 1,tA anf know that an automobile was behind me and heard no horn blow, but as I turned the corner at Seventh avenue into Twen- ty-first street. an automobile came up be- hind me out of Seventh avenue and at- tempted to pass us as we were both turn ing the corner.
 Evidently the car was going too fast to make short enough turn and the back end of the machine skidded into the front end of my buggy. The front wheel was crushed to splinters and the side of the buggy dropped to the ground, throwing me out and almost under the moving car. The man who was driving 1t was the only person in the car.
 T fell on my head and shoulder and was dazed by the fall. I saw that the horse was going to run away, however, and jumped to my feet and grasped the bridle. If the horse had run away with MT. Eastman in the buggy he would doubtless have been killed outright, as he Is old and feeble.
 After running a piece and seeing thai we probably were seriously hurt. the young man turned around and came back. He soon left and they told me his name was McDayid.
 I was not able to do my work yesterday after the accident and today. My shoul- der and arm are very sore from bruises and my legs are cut in several places My mind has been dazed all day. l think the young man was entirely at fault, as he apparently was only riding about the city and could have waited until we had turned the corner before he attempted to pass us It is possible that MT. Eastman will suffer nervous collapse from the result of the accident"
 Robert McDavid. Jr., the young man who was driving the car, Is the son of R. P. McDavid, of the McDavid & Terry real estate firm. He said last night: T did not know that it was Dr. Hef1in whom I ran into. I was not going more than IF miles an hour and blew my horn for the buggy to let me pass. I am very sorry 1t happened, but do not believe l am to blame for the accident. I have an insur ance policy to cover such damages anf intend to make 1t right with pr. Hehln.