Editor’s note: Carefully and accurately writing about events that occur on Ocracoke is important to the Ocracoke Observer staff, both as newspaper professionals and island residents.
Today’s story about the tragic death of Howdy Frantz was reported sooner than it might ordinarily have been because this reporter, editor of the Observer, was herself headed to catch the ferry and had just turned around to go back because overwash had made the road impassable. She witnessed the accident and went to help, discovering that the vehicle occupants were her neighbors. She comforted Janet while first-responders were doing their jobs.
Regarding the tragic death of Howdy, Janet is his next of kin and was at the scene. Hyde County Sheriff Captain Joe Smith, the law enforcement officer in charge, would not have released Howdy’s name had that not been the case.
The Observer offers our heartfelt condolences to the Frantz family.
By Connie Leinbach
An Ocracoke Island man, Warren Howard Frantz of Sunset Drive, died this morning after his vehicle sailed off an overwashed NC12 at the north end of Ocracoke and landed in sandbags alongside the road.
Frantz, 61, and his wife, Janet, were driving to catch the 11 a.m. ferry leaving Ocracoke when as the vehicle hit water on the road, it went airborne and off to the right toward the ocean.
A bystander, islander Thurston Sumner, ran to the vehicle and was able to get the woman out of the car. This reporter stood with Janet, who said she’d suffered a broken arm.
Soon afterwards, Hyde County EMS and members of the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department arrived on the scene to attend to Warren, known as “Howdy,” who was still trapped in the vehicle.
Hyde County Sheriff Captain Joe Smith confirmed that despite rescue efforts and CPR, Howdy had died but Smith did not have further details.
The NCDOT has closed the road from the pony pens northward because of the hazardous conditions and after the 11 a.m. ferry left the NC Ferry Division suspended Hatteras ferry runs.
More details will be reported after the Observer hears from officials.
Update: This story was updated at 2:30 with the names of vehicle occupants released by officials. A correction to Warren Frantz’s name was made to a previous update in which he was referred to as William. The Observer apologizes for the error.
As I reread this, I am moved to reply. First to the author, thank you for being with Janet immediately and to Mr.Sumner for assisting in helping her. As a friend I am grateful for your actions and support.
Secondly, this article IMO has been well written in the face of tragedy, especially on such a small island. as a Pennsylvania friend, I was, as well as their other friends and family members were aware before viewing the article.
With heartfelt condolences to Janet and the Frantz Family, I feel we are lucky to have good local news reporting, especially when it comes to the weather and hazardous road conditions. Possibly other lives Were saved? You may want to pardon the sensational response of the HCSD, and appreciate that you have a local reporter with a camera. That’s what they’re for! Now…can we talk about abandoning 12 and fixing the ferry system!?
While sad to read this tragic news yesterday and knowing how hard it was to report it, I appreciate the timely information. I have driven that stretch a half dozen times, including one September when water was splashing onto the roadway. I am grateful for the story and also to Randal Mathews for his FB short video clip as a reminder of the danger.
As a veteran reporter and editor, I can share that this is what community journalism is all about. A local newspaper is a record of the living history of a community …. the tragic as well as the amazing. Sports scores and bake sales as well as deaths and disasters. Whether happenings carry local impact or global consequences, they always occur in someone’s back yard. Community papers understand that each occurence is important …. not just passing moments but the building blocks of community history. Condolences to everyone.
It wasn’t the act of it being reported on, it was how quickly it was released. The family hadn’t even had time to let their loved ones know before this article came out.
This a newspaper and this is news. Publicizing this serves as a warning and may save someone elses life.
I understand that this is news and it should in a respectful way by posted. I worked for the Ocracoke Island news paper for years with Kevin Cutler. What I’m saying and if you took time to watch the local news they DO NOT post personal details names or photos of events until the loved ones can be notified and not within just an hour or two of it happening. It’s truly disrespectful. How about waiting 24 hours.
Thanks, Sandy. Point made.
This is a newspaper and this is news.
It’s also a close knit community, these are our friends, not random statistics
Maybe next time wait until the family has time to process before you post it for the world to see.
I feel this article is extremely inappropriate. This just happened today. You don’t know if all family members have been contacted. Also respecting the feeling of his wife and loved ones. THIS JUST HAPPENED HOW DOES YOUR MIND FIND THIS OK… this was a tragedy event. This is not the nightly news in a great big city… using knowledge to write this even asking questions of what happened within hours of it happening is so disrespectful… we are a small community and care for the people involved..
THANK YOU SANDY
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