Irving Mitchell, colored youth, had a narrow escape Thursday afternoon when the Ford truck he was driving when down the embankment at the foot of Fifth street beside the iron bridge and stopped only after a good portion of it was under the water of Lumber River.
The accident was so unusual, and the escape of the boy so marvelous, that a large crowd of people was attracted to the scene. Soon after the truck had settled itself partly in the surging waters and partly on the hillside, Mitchell was asked many questions about his peculiar driving on the eve of the 4th. His story of the affair was that he was trying to turn into Water street from West Fifth, that he had trouble with a horse and buggy, and in an effort to get started again his foot became entangled between the low gear and reverse pedals. This caused the truck to plunge forward, but he couldn’t explain why he guided it directly between a post and the river bridge, a distance of about 12 feet.
Mrs. J.W. Sellers and her guest, Mrs. E.B. Brooks of Wilmington, were eye witnesses to the accident, and stated that the boy fell off the somersaulting truck when it was about half way down from the street to the river. Mitchell admitted this and stated that when he arose he had a part of the steering wheel in his hands.
The truck is the property of Mr. M.A. Geddie, local ice dealer. It was finally raised by cranes and trucks from its near-watery berth and put back into service, the greatest damage being the loss of the gasoline tank.
From the front page of the Robesonian, Monday, July 7, 1924
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