Chico Daily Record, Thursday Morning May 24, 1917, pg 1 col 3: Matron is Fatally Hurt In Runaway. Mrs. Frank W. Keplinger of Fruitvale Avenue Killed in Honey Run Grade Accident. Head Caught in Flying Spokes and Neck Broken; Had Halter Horse on Mountain Road. Her head caught in the flying spokes of a buggy to which a runaway horse was attached, Mrs. Frank W. Keplinger of Fruitvale avenue was fatally injured shortly after 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon, and died two hours later in the Enloe Hospital.

The accident occurred on the Honey Run grade, between Chico and Paradise, when Mrs. Keplinger and her daughter Ruby, were returning from a day’s outing in Magalia. Mrs. Keplinger stopped the horse part way down the grade while her daughter left the rig to gather some wild flowers that grew along the roadway.

The horse took fright at some unknown object and dashed down the road. Mrs. Keplinger remained in the rig for some distance, while her daughter ran after, crying to her mother to stop the horse.

When the rig struck a rough place in the road Mrs. Keplinger was thrown out against the wheel, her head catching between the spokes, breaking her neck almost instantly. The runaway was stopped several minutes later by E.K. Ellsworth of the Paradise stage, and difficulty was experienced in freeing the body from the wheel, around which Mrs. Keplinger’s hair had been wound.

Ellsworth hastened up the grade to the nearest telephone and summoned the Enloe Hospital ambulance, which went to the scene and brought the injured woman to the hospital. She died five minutes after reaching the hospital.

A post mortem examination showed a broken neck, fractured collar bones and numerous other fractures and abrasions.

Deceased was a native of Ohio and was fifty-four years old. She had resided in Chico for over eighteen years.

Surviving are the widower, F.W. Keplinger; one brother, Elmer Kooken of Bakersfield, and several brothers in Kansas; three daughters, Mrs. L.M. Cress of Oroville, Mrs. C.B. Yost of San Francisco and Ruby Keplinger of Chico; and three sons, Freemont Keplinger, U.S. navy, now stationed on the Atlantic coast, and Charles and David Keplinger of Biggs.

Coroner William Johnson will conduct an inquest probably today. Funeral arrangements will await the arrival of relatives.
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Chico Record, Friday Morning, May 25, 1917, pg 4, col 5: Fractured Skull Found to be Cause of Death. Death due to a fractured skull was the verdict rendered yesterday by a coroner’s jury at the inquest over the remains of Mrs. Frank W. Keplinger, who was killed in a runaway accident on the Honey Run grade Wednesday. The inquest was conducted by Coroner William Johnson. Ruby Keplinger, daughter of Mrs. Keplinger, was the only witness.
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Chico Record, Sunday Morning, May 27, 1917, pg 4, col 5: Victim of Accident Is Laid to Last Rest. Funeral services over the remains of the late Mrs. F.W. Keplinger, who was the victim of an accident on the Honey Rung grade last week, were held at the Baptist church yesterday. Rev. W.M. McCart officiated and several impressive numbers were sung by the church choir. Interment was made in Chico cemetery.