It seems like every time I look through the newspapers I find a story about my family that I’ve never heard before. In 1923, Henry and Rose Vosti survived a car wreck that could easily have killed them both.
The accident took place in Modesto, CA at 2:30 in the afternoon on July 19th, 1923. Rose Vosti (23) was driving the car through the intersection of Seventh and H Streets. Her brother, Henry (25), was in the passenger seat. They weren’t wearing seat belts because, well, there were no seat belts…or air bags…or any of the other safety features we have in cars today. Their car was broadsided by a car driven by A.J. Buttrey of Modesto. According to the police report:
“Miss Vosti was traveling south on Seventh Street when her car was struck by Buttrey’s as it was crossing the intersection. The larger car skidded thirty feet before turning over and pinning the occupants beneath it.”
According to the newspaper, Rose and Henry were pulled from beneath the car after the accident and taken to the nearby home of Mrs. W. H. Wood on Seventh Street. Dr. J.C. Robertson came to the house and treated them, and then the pair were sent to the hospital for further treatment of minor bruises. Eventually they were allowed to return home to the Ranch House in Salida. The other driver was thrown from his vehicle but was uninjured.
The paper noted that the top of the Vosti sedan “was completely wrecked and other parts demolished.” It seems like our family dynasty came pretty close to being extinguished before it even began!
Henry and Rose Vosti – Vosti Family Tree – Henry #1 – Rose his sister
Source:
Narrowly Escape Injury in Crash; Modesto Herald; 20 Jul 1923; Modesto, CA; retrieved from Newspapers.com 13 Sep 2020