Camden Post-Telegram, February 22, 1919View transcription
GIRL KILLED BY CITY AMBULANCE
Seven-Year-Old Barbara Johnson Meets Death in Shadow of Home.
CIRCULAR BREAK IN CHILD'S SKULL
In the shadow of her home, 7-year-old Barbara Johnson, of 1896 River avenue, was killed last night by the First district police auto. The little one's skull was fractured and her jaw broken. She was dead when admitted to Cooper Hospital.
The baby's father, Harry Johnson, a carpenter, carried her into the hospital. He collapsed when the doctors pronounced her dead.
Officer Nathan Petitt was driving the machine in River avenue on his way to Cooper Hospital with Richard Gardiner, of 2820 Adams street. The cries of Officer Albert York, who was seated in the back of the ambulance, caused Petitt to stop.
Officer York ran down the trolley tracks waving his hands to a trolley car coming in back of the auto. When the trolley stopped the fender was touching the prostrate form of the child which was lying in the tracks.
The father of the little one rushed from the house when he heard the commotion and was horrified to learn that it was his child. All haste was then made to the hospital.
The child had been visiting an aunt across the street. She ran from behind a trolley car going out River avenue and is believed to have dashed directly into the path of the auto patrol. Officer Petitt stated that he did not see the child.
At Cooper Hospital Coroner Pratt and Dr. David Brewer made an examination of the body. They found a complete circular fracture of the top of the skull and the jaw had been split.
Officer Petitt, who was exonerated of all blame in connection with the fatality, was very much affected by the killing of the little one.
Seven-Year-Old Barbara Johnson Meets Death in Shadow of Home — Circular Break in Child's Skull
In the shadow of her home, 7-year-old Barbara Johnson, of 1896 River avenue, was killed last night by the First district police auto. The little one's skull was fractured and her jaw broken. She was dead when admitted to Cooper Hospital.
The baby's father, Harry Johnson, a carpenter, carried her into the hospital. He collapsed when the doctors pronounced her dead.
Officer York ran down the trolley tracks waving his hands to a trolley car coming in back of the auto. When the trolley stopped the fender was touching the prostrate form of the child which was lying in the tracks.
The father of the little one rushed from the house when he heard the commotion and was horrified to learn that it was his child. All haste was then made to the hospital.
The child had been visiting an aunt across the street. She ran from behind a trolley car going out River avenue and is believed to have dashed directly into the path of the auto patrol. Officer Petitt stated that he did not see the child.
At Cooper HospitalCoroner Pratt and Dr. David Brewer made an examination of the body. They found a complete circular fracture of the top of the skull and the jaw had been split.
Officer Petitt, who was exonerated of all blame in connection with the fatality, was very much affected by the killing of the little one.
