Extracted from The Shreveport Times (Shreveport, LA)
Woman Is First Traffic Victim in City for '38
Mrs. Eva Emmons, 61, Dies of Injuries Received Saturday Night
With the death of Mrs. Eva Emmons, 61, Bossier City, Tuesday morning of injuries received when she was struck by a car while crossing in the middle of the 1200 block of Texas avenue Saturday night, a record of no auto traffic deaths in Shreveport for the first four months of 1938 was ended.
Mrs. Emmons died of a rib fracture spine injury and head injuries at 3:40 a.m. Tuesday in a local sanitarium.
Funeral services will be held from the Wallace Baptist church, Wallace, La., at 2:30 p.m. today. The Rev. Mr. McDaniels will officiate and burial will be in the Wallace cemetery under the direction of Rose-Neath funeral home.
Stopped Ahead of Crowd
Mrs. Emmons was leaving the hospital after visiting with her brother, Clark Hines, Coushatta, when she was hit by a car driven by R. E. Mitchell, 2742 Lillian street. Mitchell carried the injured woman into the hospital.
According to police reports, Mrs. Emmons was crossing the avenue with a group of pedestrians when she stepped out ahead of the crowd and was struck by the right side of Mitchell's car, traveling east on Texas avenue.
No charges were filed against Mitchell.
A perfect record for auto traffic in Shreveport so far this year was broken by the death of Mrs. Emmons.
Last year this time, six auto fatalities were recorded in Shreveport, five of them pedestrians and one of a person riding the running board of a car.
Official Inquiry Today
Official inquiry into the casualty will be conducted Thursday by Dr. Willis P. Butler, Caddo parish coroner.
Following Mrs. Emmons' death, Police commissioner Lal C. Blanchard and Police Chief E. E. Norvell:
“Gentlemen:
“I regret to have to report the FIRST fatality to occur with the limits of our city since Jan. 1, 1938.
“On April 9, 1938, at 8:20 p.m. Mrs. Eva Emmons, Bossier City, La., was struck by a Ford sedan driven by Mr. R. E. Mitchell, 2742 Lillian street, succumbing to the injuries received, at 3:40 a.m., April 12, 1938, while a patient in the hospital.
“According to the accident report, Mrs. Emmons was struck while crossing Texas avenue, from the north side to the south side, and in the MIDDLE of the 1200 block.
“Respectfully,
“PAT MALLOY (signed), lieutenant of police.”
In a statement in connection with the fatality, Commissioner Blanchard said:
“I deeply regret the occurrence of this fatality. However, although we had hoped to keep a clean slate in our office, we still have the finest record for any city the size of Shreveport in the United States.
“This fatality should not be recorded against traffic, as it apparently was unavoidable from the driver's standpoint.
“Good policing of our traffic officers, along with splendid cooperation of Shreveport motorists, had made the record we boast.”
Police chief Norvell, in commenting on the first auto death here this year, said:
“We are sorry this happened. We were trying to get along without a fatality.
“I think, however, our record is pretty good in comparison with the six deaths this time last year. I really believe our record is wonderful, and I am keeping my fingers crossed, hoping there will be no more.”
Mrs. Emmons is survived by six sons, W. E. Emmons, Pleasant Hill; Seth Emmons, Mooringsport; Larry Emmons, Kilgore, Texas; Dewey and Clarence Emmons, Rayville; Walter Emmons, Illinois resident; three daughters, Mrs. J. B. Dickerson, Lisbon; Mrs. R. L. Cooper, Bossier City; Mrs. K. E. Marter, Shreveport; four brothers and one sister.
Wednesday, April 13, 1938