Taken from the front page of a local newspaper following the death of Drucilla 'Dru' Bowman.
HEADLINE: Hobart girl dies, 5 hurt in crach, second teen in critical condition after car rams tree in area.
A 15 year old Hobart girl was killed and five other teenagers were injured last night (June 27, 1958), when the auto in which they were returning from Merrillville drive-in theater crashed against a tree on East 61st Ave., a short distance west of Deep River. Killed in the crash was Drucilla Bowman of 114 Washington St., declared dead on arival in Methodist Hospital. In critical condition in the hospital is Joan Addison, 16, (address listed as Cleveland St.) suffering from fractures of both legs and the left arm. Others injured, all of whom are Hobart residents are Ronald M. Kochan, 17, of 123 Arthur St., driver of the automobile: Betty Lutz, 16, (no address given), Dennis Driscoll, 17, of 137 No. Wilson St., and Norman Govert, 17, who lives on Garfield St. at 9th. They are also in Methodist Hospital. Kochan, who told deputy sheriffs he had been convicted once in Hobart on reckless driving charges, said he was driving east along 61st Ave. when he lost control of his automobile while rounding a curve. The automobile, he said, began to skid and crashed into a tree. Dash lights on his car were out, the youth said, and therefore he did not realize how fast he was going. Tire marks on the pavement showed the automobile skidded 86 yards before the crash, according to deputy sheriff Miss Bowman was Lake County's 4th traffic accident victim of the year. Dru died on June 27th 1958.
How fate has it, Dru was invited to my slumber birthday party that night. But she decided she wanted to go out on a date instead, so typical for a girl her age. Before this night, whenever she was in a car she was deathly afraid of fast movements of the car, she stated she was afraid of dieing in a car accident. We all missed her sooo much, such a loss of such a young life and a loving girl to all.. a sweet heart truely missed by so many friends, family and classmates.
Linda Smith (Hominger) (1961)
Taken from the front page of a local newspaper following the death of Drucilla 'Dru' Bowman.
HEADLINE: Hobart girl dies, 5 hurt in crach, second teen in critical condition after car rams tree in area.
A 15 year old Hobart girl was killed and five other teenagers were injured last night (June 27, 1958), when the auto in which they were returning from Merrillville drive-in theater crashed against a tree on East 61st Ave., a short distance west of Deep River. Killed in the crash was Drucilla Bowman of 114 Washington St., declared dead on arival in Methodist Hospital. In critical condition in the hospital is Joan Addison, 16, (address listed as Cleveland St.) suffering from fractures of both legs and the left arm. Others injured, all of whom are Hobart residents are Ronald M. Kochan, 17, of 123 Arthur St., driver of the automobile: Betty Lutz, 16, (no address given), Dennis Driscoll, 17, of 137 No. Wilson St., and Norman Govert, 17, who lives on Garfield St. at 9th. They are also in Methodist Hospital. Kochan, who told deputy sheriffs he had been convicted once in Hobart on reckless driving charges, said he was driving east along 61st Ave. when he lost control of his automobile while rounding a curve. The automobile, he said, began to skid and crashed into a tree. Dash lights on his car were out, the youth said, and therefore he did not realize how fast he was going. Tire marks on the pavement showed the automobile skidded 86 yards before the crash, according to deputy sheriff Miss Bowman was Lake County's 4th traffic accident victim of the year. Dru died on June 27th 1958.
How fate has it, Dru was invited to my slumber birthday party that night. But she decided she wanted to go out on a date instead, so typical for a girl her age. Before this night, whenever she was in a car she was deathly afraid of fast movements of the car, she stated she was afraid of dieing in a car accident. We all missed her sooo much, such a loss of such a young life and a loving girl to all.. a sweet heart truely missed by so many friends, family and classmates.