The Union County journal. [volume] (Marysville, Ohio) 1875-1951, 1948-09-02
IL Escape Serious Injury as Truck Crashes
Through Front of Restaurant of New Cazzy

| WE'VE p6ISOllS 6SCdpGu Will
only minor injuries when a huge
oil truck crashed into the front o.
the restaurant in Lynn Rowling'S
service station in New Californi;
at $40 a. m. Wednesday.
Driver of the truck was Stan.
ley Cofall Jr., Cleveland, son o1
the former director of the Ohio
Department of Liquor Control
Young Cofall and his wife, who
was riding with him, were un-
hurt. He was fined $50 and costs
by Mayor Kingsmore for reckless
operation, Wednesday morning.
Occupants. of the restaurant
when the truck crashed were:
Eric Griffin, 54, Hubbard, O.,
Rt. l, his wife, aged So, and their
children, Paul and Margaret, 12-
year-old twins.
William Levet, 26, Miami, Fla,
his wife, Naomi, "a, and their Z
month-old daughter, Carol.
Harold Tuller, Columbus.
Mrs. Helen Marks, 35, wife of
the restaurant proprietor, and
two mattresses, Eulah and Eunice
Martin, sisters of nearby Arnold.
Treated For Bruises
All eight of the customers in
the restaurant suffered bruises
and scratches when the huge We
hicle came careening through the
restaurants front wall. All were
treated by DR.. Ingmire, of Plain
City, and released.
How they escaped with no more
serious injuries is a miracle. All
of them were seated at tables just
inside the front wall through
which the truck crashed. The
tables at which they were seated
were broken to bits, and the front
wall crushed into splinters.
The truck continued on into
the building as far as the tractors
rear wheels, and was still con-
tinuing with such force that it
showed the counter back about
two feet.
Just Left Building
Arlie Marks, 81, proprietor of
the restaurant, said he had just
stepped out the front door a few
seconds before the truck hit.
eff / had stayed there a bit
longer, l probably would have
been killed." he said.
Mr.. Marks said the truck crash
ed into the restaurant when
youIs3 Cofall swerved 90 avoid
striking a passenger car.
The truck, owned by National
Solvent Corporation of Cleveland,
was being driven toward Plain
City on Route AZ. 1t was loaded
with oil. e..
Admitted No Brakes
Cofall admitted to Highway
Patrolman Curt Poulton that the
brakes were not working proper
ly, and that he was unable to stop
for the red traffic light at the
intersection of Routes AZ and 33.
The passenger car which Cofall
swerved to miss was headed to-
ward Columbus on Route 33. He
missed the car all right, but in
doing so careened across the road,
between the two sets of gasoline
pumps in front of the restaurant
service station, and on into the
restaurant itself.
The woman riding with Cofall
refused to give her name, but
Cofall identified her as ''my wife"
Mr.. Marks said she was out of
the truck cab and trying to hitch
hike to Plain City almost before
the echoes of the crash had died
away.
May Reopen Tonight
Young Cofall called her back
when Mr.. Marks brought the fact
to attention of Highway Patrol
men who arrived shortly after the
crash.
Mr.. Marks quoted young Cofall
as saying he had called attention
of the trucks owners to the con-
dition of the brakes on the We
hicle, but nothing had been done
about it.
Mr.. Marks and several others
began clearing away the debris
almost Immediately after the
truck had gone through the front
of his restaurant. He hoped to be
ready for business again by this
evening.