BROWNING, Doris Jean (Hants)
Date of death: 31 July 1978 Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana
Franklin Daily Journal, July 31, 1978
FRANKLIN
Pedestrian killed on U.S. 31
Struck crossing highway
A Franklin pedestrian was fatally injured and her companion is in "serious" condition following injuries suffered in a late Sunday traffic accident on U.S. 31 in Franklin.
Doris Jean Browning, 56, 1029 East Jefferson Street, Franklin, died early this morning at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis - just four hours after she was struck by a vehicle at U.S. 31 and West Madison street.
Her companion, Marie M. Rowe; 54, Edinburgh route one, was listed in "serious" condition this morning at Methodist Hospital.
Franklin police reported that both women were walking eastbound across U.S. 31 at the intersection when they were struck by a northbound vehicle driven by Ralph V. Coffman, 71, 209 East Pearl Street, Whiteland.
The driver was traveling in the right lane when he attempted to avoid the collision by braking, but skidded 67 feet and struck the two women, said police. The car, a 1974 Chevrolet, reportedly skidded on the rain-slickened highway a total of 112 feet before coming to a complete stop, added police. Coffman was not cited by police.
After the 9:10 p.m. accident, Mrs. Browning was found unconscious lying with her face against the curb, according to reports.
She was treated by Franklin Fire Medic I crews for facial, hand and leg lacerations and was transported to Johnson County Memorial Hospital. She was then transferred to Methodist Hospital, where she died at 1:28 a.m. today.
Ms. Rowe was also treated at the scene for multiple injuries and was transported to Johnson county hospital by A-1 Ambulance before transfer to Methodist Hospital.
Aiding Franklin police in their investigation were several Johnson County Sheriff's deputies and Indiana State Police troopers.
Funeral services for Mrs. Browning will be conducted 2 p.m. Wednesday at Vandivier-Parsley Funeral Home, Franklin, by Rev. Charles Paxton. Burial will follow in Nineveh Cemetery. Friends may call after 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Mrs. Browning was born July 18, 1922, in Johnson county, the daughter of Oscar and Minnie (Coffman) Hants. She was married to Kenneth L. Browning, who died in 1976.
Educated in Nineveh schools, she was a bookkeeper with Franklin Bank and Trust Company. She and her late husband previously owned and operated a grocery store in Nineveh.
She was a member of Nineveh Christian Church, Nineveh chapter of Order of Eastern Star and the Alpha Chi chapter of Epsilon Sigma Alpha sorority. Survivors include daughters, Dianna Logsdon, Franklin, and Karen Woodall, Nineveh; sisters, Kathryn Maley, Indianapolis, Ethel Mohr and Marie Ware, both of Florida, and four grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Robert Hants.
Mrs. Browning became the seventh Johnson county traffic fatality this year.
Lowell J. Moeller, 77, Nineveh route one, died July 17 about three hours after he was involved in a two-car collision on Nineveh road south of State Road 252.
Submitted by Mark Wirey