Patricia Ann Nixon

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-341471
• Misfortune: 1962; car accident

Notes:

SCENE OF TRAGEDY

Neighbor Fred Burton directs traffic at the scene of the accident. In foreground is Boeterberg car, facing north. The Zinn truck Is seen the background, facing south.


Patricia Ann Nixon, nine-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Nixon, upper Northumberland St., died en route to hospital late Friday afternoon a short time after being struck by a truck little more than 100 yards from her home, not far from the village outskirts.

Inquest to be Held

The Ontario Provincial Police from Kitchener, who investigated, said that an inquest will be held. The date will be set when the Crown Attorney returns from vacation on August 20.

Patricia was walking north from her home, along the east shoulder of the road, accompanied b a friend, Jo-Anne Kerr, also nine years of age. They were heading for the Kerr home about 100 yards away on the opposite side of the road.


The girls stopped across the road from the Kerr home, according to the OPP, and waited while two northbound cars passed, driven by Henri Boterberg and Norman Perriman. Patricia then ran across the road and was struck by a southbound half-ton truck driven by Milton Zinn of RR 1, Blair.

Medical assistance and a K-W Hospital ambulance were summoned immediately, but the little girl died en route to the hospital.

Patricia was born in Galt on Nov. 11, 1952. She came to Ayr with her parents seven years ago from that city.

Patricia was one of the most popular children in the younger circle. She was a member of the Junior Auxiliary of Christ Anglican Church, Ayr; the Ayr Brownie Pack and Ayr Figure Skating Club. She was a particularly a bright student, heading her class at Ayr Public School.

Surviving, besides her parents, are a brother, Charles, and sister. Elizabeth, both at home, and her grandmother, Mrs. Charles Nixon, Sr., Ayr.

It was the first traffic fatality in Ayr's history involving a pedestrian and a pall of sorrow hung over the village when the tragic occurrence became known. A witness to the accident described it as a set of circumstances which could never occur again in a million times, wherein the position of the vehicles prevented the driver from seeing the child or the child from seeing the truck in time.

Neighbor Suffers Collapse

The shock to the immediate neighborhood was most severe. Mrs. Fred Burton, who resides next to the Kerr home, suffered a collapse and is being treated in hospital.


Open Memorial Fund for Korean Orphan

A thoughtful gesture has been arranged by two neighbors, Mrs. Mel Hill. Hill and Mrs. David Kerr, who are setting up a Patricia Nixon Memorial Fund to raise money for the upkeep of a Korean boy, Lee-In-Roo a Korean orphanage. The support. of the child was actually undertaken some time ago by eight members of the Ayr Home and Association, under a type of adoption plan. In addition school, pupils were encouraged to write to. the child. Patricia had taken a particular interest in the project, writing on many occasions. In view of this fact, these feel it would be a most memoriam tribute.

The Ayr News Aug 2 1962 pg 1