The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-11-26
DAREDEVIL AUTO
 RACER DIES WHEN
 MACHINES COLLIDE
LyaII Jolls, Mechanician, Also Dies In Race Track Accident. 0'0onneII and Bresnahan
 Are Badly Injured
By Associated Press

 i November 25.-Gaston Chev- rolet, famous racing driver, tand Lyall Jolls, mechanician ! for Eddie O'Donnell, were killed today when Chevrolet's and O'DonnelPs machines crashed together on the Los Angeles speedway at the east end of the grandstand near the close of the 250-mile race. oDonnen was so seriously injured ,, that it was at first reported he was killed His skull was fractured and both arms broken and little hope was held that he could recover. John Bresnahan Chevrolets me- , chanician. was seriously injured. Roscoe Sarles, driving the distance without stop, won the 25o-mile race. Eddie Miller finished second and Eddie Iiearne third Saries led on every lap and in addition 70 first prize of $10,00o took the same amount in lap prizes. Miller and Hearne won 900 and $3,000 , fourth, taking $2.o00 ill prizes, and Joe Thomas was fifth,
 Sarles' time was 2:25:20. an average of f03.2 miles an hour. Miller's time was 2:26:t4 and Hearne's 2:2727 Gaston Chevrolet, killed just before the end of the race, was the youngest of three brothers. He was a mechanic for two years before he demonstrated that he was a driver of merit at the 500-mile Memorial Day race at Cin- cinnati. where he finished third.
 After that Chevrolet drove as outlaw with several other prominent drivers, but was renstated in the ranks of the American Automobile As- sociation pilots.
 In 1919 he raced on many dirt track S.s winning many of the events and pl 1 ing In, others.
 | on May sl, last lie wor the soo-n { lndiallapvlts speedWeys race in tslh sccl s hest time Dl tie history Of fhat anu ] event He averaged speed of st l miles an hour.
 Eddie oDonnell began his rae career us q mechanician in 1912. 1914 he drove his first race at Ka1ai zoo. Mich, winning second place in iN 10e-mile contest
 ; In 1915 he started in 10 races sn6 finished in nine of them, each timt N the money.
 At the Kansas City race July e2. 1sf O'Donnell had q smash-up which si tered one of his arms. He did not again. until last year. when he drove in two races both at Sheesphead Bay. New York
 The accident occurred while Chevro- let, ODonnelI and Joe Thomas were fighting to make up the half dozen laps they were behind the leaders at the 150-lap point. The three cars were punched on the east turn
 HITS 0,nONNEII CAD
 According to persons grouped about the turn, Chevrolet turned to pass Thomas. who was on the inside of tho bowl and his car struck that of O'Don nell who was on the outside. OBon- neiIs car turned and plunged down the incline and Chevrolets, apparently out of control shot to the top of tho track tore out 20 feet of fence, then rolled down the incline on top of the wreckage beneath which O'Donnclf and Jolls were pinned,
 All four men were removed to Q hospital. O'Donnell was unconscious his skull fractured and both arms broken, and attendants brought infor- nation to the judges stand chat he was dead. The officials announced that both Chevrolet and O'Donnell had been killed, and it was nearly two hours peiofe the news spread that ODonneli was still living.
 sarles led every lap. but one, rolling over the 200 laps on the mile and quar- ter Tack without stop in hours 25 minutes and 20 seconds an average speed of 1882 miles an hour
 Jim Crosby finished sixth Al Melcher, Tommy Milton and Johp Ihieie were forced out by engine trou- ble
 Chevrolets point total for the season n the championship competition was loso all acquired previously to today's races. Milton. who did not finish ,o day, had 930 with other competitors as follows: Murphy SS5: RaIph De- Palma, eOo, sarles, 5l0; Thomas. ssI: Mulford, $50: Hearne, 345; Ira Van lo4; ODopnelL l10. Mulford and Vail were not entered in the race today pePalma was entered. but did not start.
 The wife of ODonneu was in inc grand stand when her husband was in Jured. She was rushed in an autono- pie 10 the hospital where the driver had been taken @
 lolls was 26 years old and q native oi iilinois. He had been a mechanician Tor three years His family resides i'm Detrot. He WIS engaged 10 be married 10 Mrs- May A. Esch, of St. Paul who was at the race today and saw th. accident, but did not know at that tune It took the lie of her fiance. She was prostrated tonight
 ihere were originally 13 entries for .ne race. DePaima did not start be, cause Dis car had not arrived ana waldo Stlen withdrew because he had broken a connecting rod in practice
 BROTHER IS NOTIFIED
 Savannah t,a,. o=