Car Crashes on Bridge Closed for Repairs, June 10, 1921

Three Are Hurt in Auto Smash. . . Charles Skinner, Gilder Craver and Frank Yorke Painfully Hurt Near Waxhaw

Three young men of Charlotte were painfully hurt and a new Winton Six automobile was badly smashed up Thursday night at 10 o’clock at Twelve Mile Creek, 26 miles from Charlotte and 4 miles from Waxhaw, on the Charlotte-Lancaster highway as the young men were enroute to Lancaster to attend a dance.

Those hurt were Charles Skinner, brother of Mrs. Paul Haddock, of Myers Park, who suffered a compound fracture of one thigh; Frank Yorke, son of Mr. and Mrs. John F. Yorke, who sustained a fractured nose; and Gilder Craver, son of Mr. and Mrs. R.D. Craver of Dilworth, who suffered bruises and abrasions but no broken bones. Roger Craver and Robert F. Masterman, who also were in the car, were practically unhurt, with the exception of a few bruises to Mr. Masterman.

The automobile ran to the end of the long wooden bridge that spans Twelve Mile Creek and which had been closed two weeks for repairs. It was barricaded at the end with a pile of brush and a lantern was supposed to have been in place lighted and serving as a warning to travelers not to go upon the bridge. The occupants of the automobile say they did not see a lantern.

Messrs. Roger Craver and Masterman walked about four miles to Waxhaw and telephone back to Charlotte for aid. The ambulance of the Blake Auto Service answered the call and brought the injured and others back to the Mercy Hospital here.

Mr. Craver was able to leave the hospital Friday morning after his hurts were attended to. Messrs. Skinner and Yorke are still in the hospital.

The wrecked automobile is still lying on the end of the bridge. It is said there are signs this side of the bridge directing attention to the fact that the bridge is closed and marking out two optional routes for a detour. The young men in the car failed to see these signs.

The right front wheel of the car hit the first post of the bridge and was smashed off, the impact swinging the car around and crushing the body of the machine.

A long-distance telephone inquiry from Lancaster Friday morning asking as to the condition of the men in the car, said the detour signs placed to prevent travelers going on the bridge were placed at different distances toward the Mecklenburg end of the bridge, one of them a considerable distance from the bridge, and that the signs were observable at some distance.

From the Charlotte News, Friday, June 10, 1921