TROWBRIDGE

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Tuesday, October 28, 2008 at 05:00:56 :

The Marin Journal
Thursday, March 13, 1924
Page 3

Woman Killed As Cars Crash In Fog

Mrs. George T. Trowbridge, wife of ex-Senator Trowbridge, of Santa Rosa, was killed, and six persons were injured in a wreck of several automobiles last Friday morning when they piled up in a dense smoke-filled fog on the highway three miles north of San Rafael.

Zekie Smith’s car, proceeding slowly through the fog which was made denser by smoke from burning grass in that section, was struck by the County Poor Farm car. The Santa Rosa-Sausalito bus, unable to pass, drew up and stopped, and a moment later the car driven by former Superior Judge Denny of Sonoma, crashed into the rear of the state. Another car then struck the rear of the Denny car.

Frightened and fearing the consequences of another crash, the stage passengers alighted and scattered about the wrecked cars. Among those who got out of the way of the stage was Mrs. Trowbridge. W. A. Close, stage driver, had warned his passengers to remain inside, but his advice was disregarded.

Up to that time no one had been injured, except Mrs. Denny, who was badly cut by flying glass when her husband’s machine had crashed into the stage. It was then that a poultry truck, driven by George Jagla, of Cotati, came crashing into the passengers grouped about the machines.

Mrs. Trowbridge was thrown several feet and rendered unconscious. Another woman was pinned down by the wheels of the truck, but fortunately she fell in the soft mud at the side of the highway. One of the wheels rested on her right leg, which, owing to the soft earth, was not fractured. Mrs. Trowbridge was taken to the Cottage Hospital in the Denny car and passed away shortly afterwards without regaining consciousness.

The others injured, and all of whom before the next morning were allowed to go to their homes, were:
Mrs. Elizabeth Lehman, Petaluma, bruises of right arm; Jennie Bertino, Santa Rosa, bruises and shock; Mrs. Lizzie Wengen, Petaluma, bruises of both legs; Mrs. C. E. Burke, Santa Rosa, fracture of right wrist; A. Montara, lacerations of face; Mrs. Agnes Denny, possible fracture of nose, cuts and bruises of right leg.

The body of Mrs. Trowbridge, mother of nine children, most of them of age, was removed to the Sawyer parlors and later taken to Santa Rosa for burial.

Sheriff Keating and District Attorney Greer immediately investigated the affair, questioned Gagla and took him to the scene of the accident. He was not taken into custody, District Attorney Greer stating that if any action is to be taken it will not be until after the inquest to be held by Coroner J. Ray Keaton, when the testimony of all the witnesses will be given.