Smyrna times., 1927-05-25
ONE DEAD; FIVE INJURED IN
AUTO ACCIDENT NEAR SMYRNA
TWO CARS, ONE FROM WHINING
TON, ONE LEWES, SIDE SWIPE
Accident Took Place on Boulevard just
Above Smyrna, Shortly After Mid
night Early Sunday Morning

Shortly after midnight Sunday
morning two cars, one from Whining
ton and the other from Lewes, side.
swiped, south of the new Duck Creek
bridge Oh the dupont Boulevard Just
above Smyrna, resulting in one death
and five injuries. The accident took
place at about 1890. Mrs. Margaret
Chamberlain, 81 years old of Lewes.
IS dead and William Chamberlain. her
husband, 68 years old, is in a critical
condition from internal injuries in the
Beebe Hospital at Lewes. Others cut
and bruised in the accident were:
Walter H. Gagnon, 231 Jackson street
Wilmington; William H. Collins, 1927
West Third street, Wilmington; John.
Carl and Dorothy Campbell 1927 West
Third street, Wilmington; Ella Lort,
III Bennett street, Wilmington; JOS
eph Larry, 1881 West Fourth street,
Wilmington. Gagnon with his car
was driving south on the dupont
boulevard near the Kent-New Castle
county boundary line, about a mile
north Of Smyrna, when a car owneI
BY 3. I. Chamberlain of Lewes. driv-
en- by Miss B. +. Chamberlain, his
daughter, coming north, approached.
The drivers evidently misiudged the
distance for the cars sideswiped with
terrific force. The Gagnon car was
turned completely around and head
ing north, plunged through the fence
supported by concrete posts on the
side Of the road devoted to north
bound travel and plunged into the
stream beneath, distance Of about |
~ feet. The Chamberlain car was
turned southwark and plunged thru
the fence and into the creek on the
side. Both cars were wreck /
ed and it is doubtful if they can be
repaired. Highway Policemen King
and Lamb were summoned and were \
soon on the scene with the American
Legion ambulance and its crew from
smyrna and number of employees Of
the Doughten Garage on the Roule-
vard at Smyrna. The people in the
ears We're gotten out with some diff
guilty as both were closed cars. In
ne Chamberlain car Of Lewes, in ad-
iition to Mr. Chamberlain and his
laughter, were William Chamberlain
ais father, and Mrs. Margaret Cham
1erlain his mother. Mrs. Chamberlain
lad been crushed and instantly killed.
Ter body was removed to Smyrna.
Mr. Chamberlain was removed to the
8eebe Hospital in Lewes by the Amer
can Legion Ambulance after record
breaking run. His son was anxious
hat he should go to hospital in his
'wn town. The other people named
we're in the Gagnon car of Whining
on and their injuries consisted Of
bruises sustained when the car went
'ver the embankment, and cuts from
'roken glass. None were seriously
lurt. They were taken to Smyrna !
where DR.. Deakyne attended their in
uries and they went to a hotel and ,
emained all night. Mr.. Chamberlain
md his daughter also remained on
lccount Of it having been decided to
old an inquest. At the inquest Sun :
lay afternoon the testimony of the
rivers of the cars and others was !
card and the jury rendered verdict
hat Mrs. Chamberlain came to her =
cath as the result of an unavoidable
ccident and eXonerated both drivers
rom blame. They then returned to
heir homes. The cars were later lift |
d from the stream and taken to the t
)oughten Garage to await action by c
heir owners.