Boy Struck by Auto Dies Early This Morning. . . Leland Summerlin Struck by Automobile as He Runs into Street While Playing. . . 8-Year-Old Son of Chestnut Street resident Dashes in front of Automobile Driven by Mr. Fred C. Smith and Skull is Fractured—No Hope for His Recovery Entertained by Physicians
Leland Summerlin, who was fatally injured when struck by an automobile on Chestnut Street late yesterday afternoon, died at 1:40 o’clock this morning.
With his skull fractured at the base of the brain, and with possibly internal injuries, which had not been discovered on account of the seriousness of his condition preventing a thorough examination, Leland Summerlin Jr., 8-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Leland Summerlin, who reside on Chestnut Street, near William, weas lying in the Goldsboro hospital at midnight last night in what was thought to be a dying condition as the result of being struck by an automobile driven by Mr. Fred C. Smith, in front of his home late yesterday afternoon.
The lad is said to have run directly in front of the car, which was being driven at a moderate rate of speed at the time, and was struck on the head by the fender on the right-hand side, being knocked down and rendered unconscious by the blow. When picked up, he was bleeding from the ears, nose and mouth. He was rushed at once to the hospital and given medical attention, but physicians there held out no hope for his recovery though it was said he might survive, providing the shock did not prove fatal.
At midnight a report from the hospital was to the effect that there was no change in the boy’s condition, and that he had not regained consciousness.
According to accounts of the accident given by Mr. Smith and by Mrs. W.A. Sasser, who was near the scene at the time of the same, Mr. Smith, who had just called for his sister, Miss Elizabeth Smith, who is undergoing treatment at the hands of Dr. ?. B. Ivey, was carrying her to their home at No. 316 East Walnut Street. Desiring to avoid the heavy traffic on Walnut Street, he had turned down to Chestnut Street and was midway between John and William streets at the time.
Four or five small boys, of whom the little victim was the smallest, were playing with a baseball on the south side of the street at the time. Just as Mr. Smith neared the t point with his car, the ball rolled into the street, and the little Summerlin boy dashed out after it, looking neither to the right nor to the left, but apparently intent on retrieving the ball.
Failed to Hear Horn
Mr. Smith, who was driving at a moderate speed, blew his horn ?? and cut to the left. He ?? hoped to attract the child’s attention but apparently failed to do this. The machine was at the time headed toward the curbing on the north side of the street, but was just a few feet away from this, the lad darted right in front of it and the right fender struck him on the head.
By that time Mr. Smith had brought his car to a stop and, hurriedly alighting, picked the boy up and carried him across the street to the home of the child’s parents, rushing upstairs to the Summerlin apartment with him. There was no one at home at the time, and he started down again.
At that juncture, Dr. L.W. Corbett, who had been summoned from his office nearby, arrived a the scene and took the limp form from Mr. Smith’s arms, placed it in the car of Mr. W.W. Rivers, Boy Scout executive, and the two rushed to the Goldsboro hospital as rapidly as possible. Arriving there the little victim was examined and given every possible medical attention. It was found then that he had suffered a fractured skull and possibly other injuries.
Driver Blameless
Mr. Sasser sated following the accident that he had witnessed the affair, and that Mr. Smith certainly was not to blame. Police and representatives of Sheriff Grant, who were summoned to the scene by Mr. Smith, and shown the car where it stood and as it was when the accident occurred, declared that, in their opinion, it was unavoidable. No charge was made against Mr. Smith last night.
Shortly afterwards Mr. Smith called at The News office and gave his version of the sad affair. He declared that he regretted it more than mere words could express. He asserted that he had done his best to avoid striking the child but that this was humanly impossible. It was apparent that he was greatly agitated over the accident.
The Summerlin family formerly resided at Mount Olive, coming to Goldsboro about five months ago. It is understood that they had resided on Chestnut Street but for a few days.
The supposition is that the little boy, intent on the amusement of a baseball game with his little friends and anxious to continue playing the game which they were engaged in, gave no heed or thought to the possibility of a passing automobile when he rushed into the street and probably did not see the smith car until he was upon it. The accident happened so quickly and the blow was so terrific, it is thought doubtful if the lad even realized what had struck him, the blow immediately rendering him unconscious.
From the front page of The Goldsboro News, Saturday morning, Feb. 27, 1926
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