Oklahoman Archives
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma
Publication: The Oklahoman
October 23, 1935, Front page

CAR BOUND FOR FUNERAL KILLS AGED FARMER

Driver Tries to Avoid County Pedestrian. traffic deaths

Motor car death descends not only on the unmindful. Sometimes it drops into the midst of those who have its horror fresh in mind, as it did Tuesday afternoon when 80-year-old Levi Henry Vaughn was crushed to death on Southeast Twenty- ninth street, 20 miles east of the city.

The face of Vaughn was mashed to an unrecognizable pulp against the windshield of a car owned by Dr. A. J. Williams, professor of ecology at the University of Oklahoma the last 20 years. Doctor Williams, and two other persons in the car with him. were on the way to McLoud to attend funeral services for two other automobile victims.

Face Smashed by Windshield 'I was sitting on the right hand side of the car.' Doctor Williams told Lewis R. Morris, county attorney. "His face smashed against the windshield right In front of my eyes. It flattened out and the glass broke.**

At that terrible moment Doctor Williams and his party were on the way to attend funeral services for Alfred Alois Wehmrl. 23-year-old geologists and his fianc'e. Miss Margaret Varev, senior at the University of Oklahoma, who died as a result of a car collision southeast of Oklahoma City Saturday night.

The ease with which highway death can come was well illustrated In the accident which took the life of Vaughn as it was reconstructed In the county attorney's office after the accident.


Since 1919,Vaughn, a retired farmer had lived with a son. Daniel Vaughn, who lives on Southeast Twenty-ninth street a short distance west of the Pottawatomie county line.
 

Two Cars Approach Him

It had been the elder Vaugh's habit to make a daily trip to a mall box a quarter of a mile cast of his home. At 2:20 pm Tuesday he had been to the mail box and was on the way home, a few letters in his hand.

As Vaughn walked west on the south side of the road, two motor ears approached him, both going cast and both on the right side of the road. The cars were about 100 feet apart.

The first car was driven by Ralph

(Continued on Pate 2* Column 2)

C. Horton, 801 Hightower building, and riding with him was W. B. Weston. Sanders hotel.

The second car was owned by Doctor Williams, but was driven by Harry Williamson, Norman, a student at the university. At the right of Williamson rode Doctor Williams and in the rear seat rode Mrs. Williams.

As the cars approached him Vaughn apparently was planning to cross the highway. Horton said he saw him, believed he was going to step on to the highway and swerved to miss him. Vaughn, Horton said, stepped back to the shoulder of the road.

'The old man.' Weston said, "appeared so uncertain that I turned around to watch him. I didn't believe the car back of us could miss him if he got on the highway.

Williamson said Vaughn stepped on the highway as soon as the first car passed him.

"I honked." Williamson said, ''but apparently he didn't hear.'

Vaughn, his son said later, was nearly deaf. He had a cancer back of his ear which had been threatening his life for months.

As the elderly man approached the center of the highway. Williamson said he turned the car sharply to the right, intending to pass back of the old man.

Vaughn. Williamson said, suddenly turned around and started back to the side of the road he had left. The student straightened up the car believing Vaughn would reach the shoulder in plenty of time. The car...