Beatrice Patheal
New Plymouth Sentinel
Thursday, July 06, 1922
Picnic Trip Ends In Fatal Disaster
A high powered Nash car, driven by A. C. Pathael, of Fruitland with nine occupants, six of whom were children, left the road near Washoe school house about 10 o'clock Tuesday morning while on the way to Weiser to spend the Fourth, instantly killing Beatrice Pathael, aged 10, who with her mother, and two younger sisters from St. Maries, Idaho, were visiting relatives near Fruitland.
The other occupants of the car were Mrs. Ben Pathael, Lois, aged 7 and Echo, aged 3, of St. Maries, Mrs. H. Heckes and two younger sons, George, aged 12 and Carl, 9 and Gladys Melcher, all of Fruitland.
Mrs. Pathael and the baby were both thrown clear of the wreck and she managed to raise the machine sufficiently to allow the other children pinned under the car to crawl out. The daughter, Beatrice, apparently unconscious, was rushed to the hospital at Ontario and it was found that the hub of the wheel had struck her on the head causing instant death. Mrs. Pathael was severely bruised, Lois was also bruised and her elbow somewhat crushed, Gladys Melcher is still confined to her home with a badly bruised back, Mr. Pathael received severe cut about the face and the other members of the party were more or less bruised.
It is said that the Nash driver was racing with the Ford car, which had just passed, and Mr. Pathael signaled to repass but instead of going around the Ford, attempted to pass on the right and was evidently crowded off. It seems the driver had turned to the extreme right in rounding a slight curve where the road was somewhat wider, in order to pass, but just beyond the road narrowed up again, allowing the wheels to go off the grade. At this point it is believed that the ? wheel broke causing the machine to turn completely over smashing the top, windshield and steering wheel.
Payette Enterprise (Thursday, July 06, 1922)
AUTO ACCIDENT PROVES FATAL
This community was again visited with another sad accident last Tuesday, July 4th resulting in the death of Beatrice Patheal, the 9 year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Patheal, and quite badly injuring several other occupants of the car in which they were riding at the time of the accident. Mr. A. C. Patheal, grand-father of the unfortunate child, owner and driver of the car, was on his way to the celebration at Weiser, accompanied by his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Ben Patheal and three little daughters, one a baby in her arms, who were here on a visit from St. Maries, Idaho, Gladys Melcher, also a grand-daughter of Mr. Patheal, Mrs. Henry Heckus and her two little boys of Fruitland.
When near the Rex Spray factory on Washoe Bottom they were overtaken by a stranger driving a Ford who attempted to pass when a race ensued until they had crossed the bridge across the slough just north of the Washoe school, a distance of perhaps a half mile when it is said Mr. Patheal lost control of his car and after making several bounces from one side of the road to the other, turned completely over the car reversing ends landing in a tooley patch bottom side up. The driver of the Ford continued his flight without stopping to render assistance. The near by neighbors and others who were driving by soon gathered and rendered help in picking up the unfortunate party. Mrs. Patheal with the baby in her arms was thrown to the opposite side of the road with the baby uninjured, Mrs. Patheal had several cuts about the face and elbow badly injured, the next older daughter seven years of age, face severely mangled and arm badly bruised, Mrs. Heckus slightly bruised, her two boys cut about the face and arms, one badly injured, Gladys Melcher face cut and arm injured, Mr. Patheal received a severe cut from the corner of his mouth down below the jaw bone his lower lip hanging below his chin, and otherwise badly bruised.
Mr. Patheal, Mrs. Heckus and two sons, and Gladys Melcher were brought to Payette and after receiving medical aid were taken to their homes. Mrs. Patheal and daughter were taken to the Ontario hospital, the eldest daughter, Beatrice, who received a broken neck died while on the way. The other members of the party are now at their homes and will recover.
The body of little Beatrice is now at the Undertaking Parlors of Wood & Spaulding, and the funeral postponed pending the arrival of the father who left his home a few days ago for Canada on business matters.
The car, a four cylinder Nash, while considerably damaged, with the replacement of two broken wheels could have been brought to town on its own power. It was a sad accident that might have been more serious, and should be a lesson to all auto drivers. (Riverside Cemetery)
