Woman Hit By Car Dies

An 81-year-old woman, who jumped onto the hood of a car to avoid being struck, fell in front of the vehicle and was killed Wednesday, Evansville police said.

Despite her 81 years, her health was excellent, her spirits good, and every day she took her nearly five-mile “health walk” from her East Side apartment to Washington Square Mall several blocks away, around the Lawndale shopping center and back home.

As Camilla Peavyhouse, of Evansville crossed Washington Avenue, between the two shopping centers, she was struck by a car driven by Martin Leich, 77 of Evansville, and killed. Police said the driver swerved to miss her, but she jumped to miss him and they both went the same direction.

Police said Peavyhouse jumped onto the hood of the car and was carried about 60 feet before falling off and being run over.

She was pronounced dead at St. Mary’s Medical Center at 2:45 p.m., a little more than an hour after the accident.

No charges have been filed against Leich pending a review of the police report by the Vanderburgh County prosecutor.

Evansville Courier & Press (Evansville, IN) & The Indianapolis News (Indianapolis, IN -Thursday, August 31, 1989

Camilla E. (Ausbrook) Peavyhouse, 81 of Evansville, Indiana died Wednesday, August 30, 1989 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Evansville. Services at Ziemer-Shears Funeral Home in Evansville. A graveside service held at Heflin Cemetery in Dover, Tennessee.

Mrs. Peavyhouse was born April 3, 1908 in Stewart County, Illinois a daughter of Clyde E. and Agnes E. (Schooley) Ausbrook. She was the widow of the Reverend Noble Peavyhouse.

She was a homemaker and member of Cullen Avenue Baptist Church. She was also a member of the Eastern Star and the lady Owls.

Survivors include two sons, Lester Peavyhouse, Nashville and Ron Peavyhouse, Evansville; two daughters, Adele Shoemaker, Clarksville, TN and Lana Parker, Henderson, KY; two brothers, Wilford Ausbrook, Cottonwood, AZ and Dr. E.K. Ausbrook, Belleville, IL; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.

The Leaf-Chronicle (Clarksville, TN) – Friday, September 1, 1989