New-York tribune., 1912-03-21
AUTO SK|DS AND HANGS
OVER BRIDGE; Z HURT
Frank Coffyn, the Aviator, and
Water Commissioners Secre-
$ tary Thrown to Roadway.
BOTH TAKEN TO HOSPITAL
wife of Flyer Says Automobile Is
More Dangerous than Aero
plane and Regrets Loss
of Trip to Bermuda.

Frank Coffyn. the aviator, was badly
,rtured yesterday when a Water De-
.srtment automobile, in which he was
,,d,ng in Central Park with Edwin L.
tJa+yev. secretary TO Commissioner
rbompson Of the Water Department
.tidded and crashed through a railing
an Bridge 3. known as "hoodoo bridge"
The automobile was saved from a drop
# twenty feet when the front of it fell
against a lamppost in the road below,
rbne the rear end of it remained braced
IN the bridge. The angle was so great
however, that the aviator and Harvey,
uho were in the rear seats, were thrown
head first into the road The chauffeur.
paul Zeulich, grabbed the top Of the
hnppost when the car hit il, saving
himself by jumping 10 the ground. AL
bert Lavino, the aviator's secretary. 1t
vas said. jumped before the crash came.
The "hoodoo bridge" is on the East
nrive near 6Sth street Within the last
month part of the railing was smashed
hv a skidding automobile, and the cast
iron fence had just been replaced. Ac-
cording to the chauffeur of the Water
Department car his wheels skidded.
we were going north at about a
speed Of twelve miles an hour said
the chauffeur. In avoiding another car
our wheels skidded. We were thrown
into the railing, the front wheels crash
ing through. AS they did so the ma
chine veered around and plunged down.
Coffvn and Harvey were thrown out the
left hand side Of the car TO the road be-
low. I was thrown up against the lamp
post and scrambled down TO the hillside.
Mr.. Laviuo jumped as the car went
over"
John O'Leary. park laborer. was
working on the path below the bridge
when the accident occurred. If the car
had not fallen against the lamppost ne
would have been crushed. with the two
others, beneath it. O'Leary barely es-
capped being hit by the aviator as ne
plunged through the air.
While the laborer went TO inform the
police DR.. II. A. Griffin, of No. % west
54th street. who was passing in his
automobile. went TO the assistance Of the
injured persons. The police We're an
swering rollcall when they were in
frmed of the accident by PatrOlman
Copeland. and Captain McKeon ordered
all his men to the spot. thinking the car
had pinned the automobile party under
It.
Coffyn and Harvey were lying in the
roadway. while the chauffeur and La
vino were on the embankment near by.
DR.. Griffin was leaning over the aviator,
whose head was in pool of blood.
Dr.. Hall Of the Presbyterian Hospital,
answered call for an ambulance. The
surgeon found Coffyn and Harvey badly
cut UP and the former showed signs OF
a fractured skull. Later in the day DR..
Fisher, superintendent Of the Presby-
terian Hospital, said Coffyn had been
hit hard over the left eye and had been
having hemorrhages from the nose most
Of the day, indicating a probable fract-
ure of the base of the skull. His right
leg had painful contuSions. DR.. Fisher
said that although Harvey was not so
badly injured his condition was serious,
and he was suffering more pain than
the aviator. Harvey's left wrist and ankle
were broken and his face was badly
lacerated. Mrs. COffyn was permitted TO
see her husband shortly after 4 o'clock,