Wednesday 8th February 1939
Bill Cummins (34), winner of the 1934 Indianapolis 500 and holder of the land speed record for diesel-powered cars, died. Cummings died driving a passenger automobile on State Road 29 in Indianapolis, when he hit a guard rail and plunged 50 feet (15 m) into Lick Creek. He was pulled from the water by passers-by while still alive, but died in the hospital two days later
