Ottawa County news. (Port Clinton, Ohio) 1931-1956, 1948-06-04
TRAGIC DEATHS MAR
HOLIDAY IN COUNTY
FATHER DIES in
FUTILE RESCUE
Three TOledOans Are Victims
Of Traffic Accidents
Near Here

IuEeS persons were kIleO III
holiday tragedies in Ottawa coun-
ty over the weekend, thus giving
this county the highest death rate
in the state. Two other persons
were injured in traffic accidents
one man remaining in critical con-
dition in Magruder hospital.
Victims of the accidents were
William H. Hennessy, 4S, and his
son, Thomas, 9 killed when their
truck was struck by train at the
Danbury crossing Saturday night,
and Frank V. Rochowiak, 25, who
was killed when his car crashed
into a bridge in Woodville road
early Monday. All three victims
were Toledoans.
Hennessy and his son met death
while on a fishing trip. With Hem
nessy's uncle, Charles Tucholski,
81, of 1911 Woodland avenue, they
had come here earlier Saturday to
fish in the Sandusky bay, and had
planned to spend the weekend
here.
During the evening, Thomas had
been fishing from rocks along the
shore and had twice slipped into
the water. His father pulled the
youth from the water the first
time, and his great-uncle rescued
Tom the second time.
After the boy had been pulled
from the water, Hennessy decided
the fishermen should return to To-
ledo. Thomas climbed into the
rear of the truck, and was wrap
ped in blankets by his father.
AS the truck was being driven
across the N. Y. c. right-of-way,
it slipped from the roadway planks
and the wheels lodged between the
tracks. Suddenly the lights of the
paul Revere, passenger fiier,
split the darkness as the train
rounded the nearby curve.
Hennessy showed his uncle from
the truck and jumped out. They
started to run across the tracks
I and the father shouted to the boz
to follow. Realizing that his son
had not heard him, Mr.. Hennessy
started back to the truck to at
tempt saving Thomas, but the train
struck before the valiant father
was successful.
Hennessy was killed instantly.
Parts of his body were strewn
along the tracks. The boy was
pinned against the front of the
train engine with parts of the
wrecked truck, and was carried
almost mile before the train
could be stopped.
Thomas was taken to Sandusky
in the locomotive tender, and died
an hour after being admitted to
Providence hospital. DR.. George
Poe, county coroner, returned YER
diets of accidental deaths. Deputy
Sheriff Merlan Budd Investigated
the double tragedy.
Surviving Hennessy are the wild
ow, Virginia; three daughters, his
parents, two sisters and three
grandchildren. Thomas, a pupil in
Our Lady of Loudre school, is sur
v;ved by his mother, three sisters,
grandparents, and great-grand-
mother.
The train was delayed over two
hours while it awaited a new en-
gine. Hennessy operated the Hen
messy Heating company. The trag-
edy was the second in two days
for the family, as Sharon Sue Jur-
Elk, 10-month-old girl who was in
jured fatally Thursday when
struck by foul tip during a soft
ball game, was Hennessy's cousin.
Veteran Killed
Frank V. Rochowiak, World War
II veteran, was killed early Mon
day when his car crashed into a
bridge abutment over the Tous-
saint Creek, Is miles east of To-
ledo. The car hit with such force
that the motor and other parts of
the car were thrown to the oppo-
site bank of the creek, state high
way patrolmen stated.
Rochowiak was pronounced dead
upon arrival in st. Vincent's hos
pital, Lucas county Coroner Paul
Holly reported. Holly stated the
youth suffered multiple fractures
and internal injuries, and apparent
ly died instantly.
Members Of his family said
Frank had left home Wednesday,
declaring he intended to enroll in
a southern Ohio agricultural col
lege. He served in the Marine
Corps during the war, and was
wounded in action at Cape Glou-
cester, New Britain. He also
fought at Guadalcanal, Tulagi, the
Solomons, Ryukyus, Okinawa and
was with the occupation forces in
Japan. Surviving are the parents,
Mr.. and Mrs. Vincent Rochowiak,
one sister and one brother.