Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1920-04-12
MATHEW RODDA
HURT IN CRASH
Well Known Local Ball Player
is Seriously Injured in Auto
mobile Accident Saturday
LARGE TRUCK STRIKES CAR
Head-on Collision Near Rah-
way--Rodda is Rushed to
Doctor and City Hospital

Mathew Rodda, of 226 Sherman
street, we'll known in this city for
many years as a baseball player, was
seriously but not fatally injured late
Saturday night when an automobile
in which he was riding collided head
on with a large produce automobile
truck plying between Philadelphia and
New York. The accident occurred
on the Lincoln Highway between Eliza
beth and Railway. the car in which
Rodda was riding being owned and
driven by Ellsworth Merrill, of Sc
warren. The front of the touring car
was completely wrecked by the col
lision while the truck escaped with a
bent bumper.
Merrill, who was driving the car,
escaped with slight injuries as com
pared with those sustained by Rodda.
The flying glass from the broken
windshield resulted in Rodda receiv-
ing severe decorations about the face,
head, neck and body. One large piece
of glass struck him in the neck sever
ing the muscle in the left side OF
his neck He bled considerably be-
fore he could be rushed to doctor.
Rodda also suffered from numerous
bruises.
Merrill had his left arm injured and
his right hand sprained but escaped
the flying glass. He endeavored to
obtain the name of the driver of the
truck, but was unsuccessful the
chauffeur driving away without leav-
ling his name or license number. Mer-
rill, however. made note of the
number of the truck as 1t drove away
and notified the Elizabeth police. The
truck passed through that city without
being stopped but the Newark au-
thorities, who also had been notified,
arrested the driver. The driver was
larraigned in Linden yesterday morn
ling. Merrill said he did not wish to
press charges against the driver
despite the fact that he claimed he
was on the wrong side of the road,
but asked for damages to his car and
for Rodda's and his own injuries. This
the court could not demand, the driver
was allowed to go. The truck was
protected by an insurance company
which necessitated Merrill's taking the
matter up with that company.
A passing automobile was stopped
and Rodda was taken to the office of
DR.. Young. in Railway, who attended
him and then notified the Perth Am
boy City Hospital. An ambulance was
Isent from here to Railway and Rodda
brought to the hospital in this city. He
lis under the care of DIR. Frank G..
Henry and was reported as doing well
this morning.
The car in which Merrill and Rodda
were the only occupants was a five
passenger touring car. The front
wheels, radiator. axel and engine were
SO damaged that 1t could not be moved
under it's own power.
Rodda, known to baseball fans in
land about this city for many years as
I"Pop" Rodda owing to his advanced
Iage, was scheduled to have played
with the Perth Amboys this season,
the opening game being yesterday.
Owing to his injuries it is doubtful
liz he can get in the game again this
season. He is also president of the
local aerie of Eagles.
Auto Crashes Into Fence
Sitting in his fathers touring car
SATURDAY. morning, James McNitt, the
two ard half year old son OF r.
]. McNitt, of 1 Lewis street, is be-
lieved to have touched the steering
gear of the car which was standing on
the Lewis street hill, and this is be-
lieved to have caused the wheel of
the car to be drawn away from the
curb and start slowly down the hill
stopping at the iron fence along the
bluff This is the only analysis of a
peculiar occurrance Saturday morning.
Patrolman Grega found the boy
and the car. the latter damaged very
little, up against the fence, and the
boy told the policeman where he was
from. One of the bars of the fence
was knocked out as result of the
collision.