Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1919-11-25
[. NJ. HUGHES IS F.
KILLED AS AUTO
HITS BIC TRUCK
Blinded by Mud Spattered
on Windshield, He I'm
knowingly Drives on the
Wrong Side of Road and
into Truck

Mud which splashed from a chuch-
hole and smeared the windshield of his
Ford car was the indirect cause Of the
death of l.. NJ. Hughes, at Sixteenth
and Van Buren, streets yesterday morn
ing at 10. 80 o'clock.
Driving at the rate Of 20 miles an
hour and unable by reason of the
splattered windshield to see that he
was on the wrong side of the road, his
car crashed into heavy two and a
half ton loaded truck which met the
lighter car with locked brakes, tele-
scoping the radiator of the Ford and
throwing the three occupants of the
car violently forward
Mr.. Hughes, who was driving, died
While being taken to the hospital
Charles Merkle, 1885 East Monroe
street was rendered unconscious tenn
porarily, but recovered at the hospital
and was removed to his room, unin-
1ured, save for a severe bruise over
The fourth rib on the right side. s. E.
hallmark of Salt Lake City, who was
IN the back seat. escaped uninjured.
Gets On Wrong Side
HOW the collision occurred was told
az the inquest proceedings held IN
Judge Wheeler's court yesterday aft
ernoon. William F. Howe an en-
ploye of the Chambers Transfer com
party and driver Of the truck, stated
that with Alfred Grenig. a Mexican
helper, he was on his way to Mesa to
deliver load of tires for the Boss
Rubber company.
When the car driven by Mr.. Hughes
was approaching about $50 feet away,
II struck a chuck hole and received a
coating OF mud over the wind shield
Howe said. The car then crossed
diagonally to the other side of the road
where it seemed to be coming straight
at the truck. When the motor car was
but 80 feet away, and still coming at
him on the wrong side OF the road
Howe said he locked the brakes on
the truck and was practically at a
standstill when the Ford crashed into
it. Neither he nor Grenig was injured
Tells OF Accident
This version of the collision was
corroborated by Brant Hoover OF
Tempe, who was following the truck
at some distance; D. r. Newhart, 747
East Adams street a salesman for the
Boss Rubber company, who also was
Following in the wake of the truck, and
Deputies Ernest Smith and James
ton of the cars when found indicated
that the Ford had been on the WRONG
side of the road
S. +. Hallmark, who is visiting here
and who was in the back seat of the
Ford car, stated that he did not see
the truck and did not believe Hughes
saw it because Of the mud spattereo
windshield
Verdict of death accidental on the
part of Hughes" was returned by the
jury and caused some question to be
raised as to what was intended, but
several jurors stated informally aftel
the inquest that it was meant to alb
solve the truck driver from blame.
Victim Was Pioneer
The jurors were l.. Kohl, B. Richard.
son, L. B. Barnum, Arthur Wilson
Charles Davis and Henry Johnson.
l.. NJ. Hughes was a pioneer and vel
known in the valley. Four years agt
he owned the Highland grocery a
Tenth and Pierce streets, but he sole
it to engage in rsnching west of tn,
city. He is survived by a family. n,
arrangements for the funeral hav,
been made.