THE FLAGLER TRIBUNE
Bunnell, Florida
Thursday, August 22, 1940

 

Louis L. McDuffie, driver of a Flamingo Truck lost his life from burns and eight of the ten members of the Hilliard family were injured in a truck-car crash here this morning.

McDuffie was driving north a big transport truck of the Flamingo Line and the Hilliard family was proceeding south when the vehicles side-swiped on Dixie highway near the south edge of town.

After crashing, the truck ran off the highway and into a house, knocking it off its foundations. Both truck and house burned almost completely, although the fire department rushed to the scene a few minutes after the accident. Those near the scene said the 100 gallon tank of the truck exploded, and in addition a large quantity of motion picture films in the truck added to the intensity of the flames.

McDuffie was rushed to a hospital in Palatka, but died about three o'clock this afternoon. His home was in Jacksonville.

The Hilliard automobile had practically the entire left side torn off but did not leave the road. Dr. J. R. West of Bunnell rendered medical service to Mr. and Mrs. Earl Hilliard and two children, Betty and Bobby; Mrs. J. A. Hilliard, Cecil, Ruth and David. J. A. Hilliard, Jr. and Jimmie Hilliard suffered only from shock. Others injured required stitching of severe scalp wounds. Dr. West advised that three members of the family be sent to a hospital for X-Ray examination to determine extent of possible internal injuries.

The Hilliard families had been to Starke where they had attended the: funeral of a relative and were returning to their home in West, Palm Beach when the crash occurred.

Sheriff E. W. Johnston of Flagler County and members of the State Highway Patrol investigated but res­ponsibility for the crash is not yet determined.