Submitted by: Mary Jo Koran

RYNEARSON

Myers

SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE – December 11, 1926

Donald L. Rynearson

1918 – December 11 1926

Unidentified Motorist Kills Boy and Escapes:

Skull Fracture Fatal to Donald Rynearson, Police Seek Driver

Coroner C.B. Crumpacker aided by officials of South Bend and Mishawaka begins quest for fugitive.  Injuries sustained last night at 6 o’clock by Donald Rynearson, age eight, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank F. Rynearson, 1206 South 29^th Street, when he was struck by an unidentified motorist in River Park, terminated fatally this morning.

The boy died about 6:40 o’clock this morning in St Joseph’s Hospital, Mishawaka, of a fractured skull.  He never regained consciousness from the time of the accident until his death.  Dr. C.B. Crumpacker, county coroner, began an immediate investigation this morning, aided by police of both South Bend and Mishawaka.  Through clues furnished by eye-witnesses of the accident, the coroner hopes to trace the identity of the driver of the death machine – which failed to stop after his car had hurled the child to the pavement at 30^th Street and Mishawaka Avenue.

This morning the motorist involved in the fatality had not yet made any formal report at either the South Bend or Mishawaka police station or to any police officer as the law stipulates should be done.  Failure of the driver to halt and render aid to his or her victim will probably result in manslaughter charges being filed in the event of an arrest. 

Donald’s brother, Earl, age 11, who was with him at the time but who escaped being hit, was unable to describe the car other than as a large green automobile which proceeded west.  The brothers were returning home from an errand to a store and had just started to cross to the south side of Mishawaka Avenue when the machine struck Donald and hurled him to the pavement. He was taken to St Joseph’s Hospital, Mishawaka, by John Vanderbaush, 921 South 32nd Street, and L.H. Bates, 925 South Logan Street. While he lay unconscious on a hospital bed in an apparently vain battle for life, South Bend and Mishawaka police searched for the car responsible for his fatal injury. 

The child was born in South Bend eight years ago.  Surviving are his parents and the following brothers and sisters:  Mrs. Gladys Myers, Carl, Merrill, Thelma, Earl, Lloyd, Marie and Betty Rynearson, all of South Bend.  The body may be viewed in the Hollis & Haverstock Funeral Home pending funeral arrangements.

South Bend Tribune – Funeral Notes – Monday, December 13, 1926

Funeral services for Donald Rynearson, 1206 South 29^th Street, who died Saturday morning as a result of injuries sustained Friday night when hit by an automobile, will be held in the residence at 1:30 o’clock Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock, Rev. Claude Young, of the Stull Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church, and Ref. Mr. Cripe, of Roseland, officiating.  Burial will be in Sumption Prairie Cemetery.