Arizona Death Certificate
The Wickenburg Sun,
Wickenburg, Arizona
December 6, 1946
FAMILY OF FOUR INSTANTLY KILLED IN HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH HEAVYTRUCK
Six crates of refrigerating equipment, each weighing 1,100 pounds, were thrown to the pavement from the army truck and trailer hauling them to Phoenix last Wednesday evening on the outskirts of Wittmann when an automobile in which a Prescott family of four was riding, collided head-on with the truck. The four people in the passenger car were killed instantly. Their mangled bodies were brought to the Wickenburg Chapel by Howard L. Coffinger and later sent to Prescott.
Highway Patrolman Everett Bowman, who investigated the accident, and residents of Wittmann who quickly gathered at the scene of the crash, were astounded at the damage resulting from the crash. The passenger car was chewed and crushed to bits and the four bodies were almost beyond identification when extricated from under the front of the truck, back of the front wheels.
From papers found in their possession, Justice of the Peace Bob C. Storns, acting as coroner, was able to establish identification. The dead were Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Helms of Prescott; their son, Denver, age 18, and a granddaughter, Rachael Nalley, age 11.
The crash occurred just a few hundred feet south of Dewey's Cafe and Garage, on a short concrete bridge. Dewey DeWitt, proprietor, who was one of the first to reach the scene, aided by other volunteers, helped control, traffic on both sides of the accident. It is estimated that more than 200 vehicles were held up in either direction. The accident happened around 8:15 o'clock.
The Wickenburg Sun,
Wickenburg, Arizona
December 6, 1946
FAMILY OF FOUR INSTANTLY KILLED IN HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH HEAVYTRUCK
Six crates of refrigerating equipment, each weighing 1,100 pounds, were thrown to the pavement from the army truck and trailer hauling them to Phoenix last Wednesday evening on the outskirts of Wittmann when an automobile in which a Prescott family of four was riding, collided head-on with the truck. The four people in the passenger car were killed instantly. Their mangled bodies were brought to the Wickenburg Chapel by Howard L. Coffinger and later sent to Prescott.
Highway Patrolman Everett Bowman, who investigated the accident, and residents of Wittmann who quickly gathered at the scene of the crash, were astounded at the damage resulting from the crash. The passenger car was chewed and crushed to bits and the four bodies were almost beyond identification when extricated from under the front of the truck, back of the front wheels.
From papers found in their possession, Justice of the Peace Bob C. Storns, acting as coroner, was able to establish identification. The dead were Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Helms of Prescott; their son, Denver, age 18, and a granddaughter, Rachael Nalley, age 11.
The crash occurred just a few hundred feet south of Dewey's Cafe and Garage, on a short concrete bridge. Dewey DeWitt, proprietor, who was one of the first to reach the scene, aided by other volunteers, helped control, traffic on both sides of the accident. It is estimated that more than 200 vehicles were held up in either direction. The accident happened around 8:15 o'clock.
Arizona Death Certificate
The Wickenburg Sun,
Wickenburg, Arizona
December 6, 1946
FAMILY OF FOUR INSTANTLY KILLED IN HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH HEAVYTRUCK
Six crates of refrigerating equipment, each weighing 1,100 pounds, were thrown to the pavement from the army truck and trailer hauling them to Phoenix last Wednesday evening on the outskirts of Wittmann when an automobile in which a Prescott family of four was riding, collided head-on with the truck. The four people in the passenger car were killed instantly. Their mangled bodies were brought to the Wickenburg Chapel by Howard L. Coffinger and later sent to Prescott.
Highway Patrolman Everett Bowman, who investigated the accident, and residents of Wittmann who quickly gathered at the scene of the crash, were astounded at the damage resulting from the crash. The passenger car was chewed and crushed to bits and the four bodies were almost beyond identification when extricated from under the front of the truck, back of the front wheels.
From papers found in their possession, Justice of the Peace Bob C. Storns, acting as coroner, was able to establish identification. The dead were Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Helms of Prescott; their son, Denver, age 18, and a granddaughter, Rachael Nalley, age 11.
The crash occurred just a few hundred feet south of Dewey's Cafe and Garage, on a short concrete bridge. Dewey DeWitt, proprietor, who was one of the first to reach the scene, aided by other volunteers, helped control, traffic on both sides of the accident. It is estimated that more than 200 vehicles were held up in either direction. The accident happened around 8:15 o'clock.
The Wickenburg Sun,
Wickenburg, Arizona
December 6, 1946
FAMILY OF FOUR INSTANTLY KILLED IN HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH HEAVYTRUCK
Six crates of refrigerating equipment, each weighing 1,100 pounds, were thrown to the pavement from the army truck and trailer hauling them to Phoenix last Wednesday evening on the outskirts of Wittmann when an automobile in which a Prescott family of four was riding, collided head-on with the truck. The four people in the passenger car were killed instantly. Their mangled bodies were brought to the Wickenburg Chapel by Howard L. Coffinger and later sent to Prescott.
Highway Patrolman Everett Bowman, who investigated the accident, and residents of Wittmann who quickly gathered at the scene of the crash, were astounded at the damage resulting from the crash. The passenger car was chewed and crushed to bits and the four bodies were almost beyond identification when extricated from under the front of the truck, back of the front wheels.
From papers found in their possession, Justice of the Peace Bob C. Storns, acting as coroner, was able to establish identification. The dead were Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Helms of Prescott; their son, Denver, age 18, and a granddaughter, Rachael Nalley, age 11.
The crash occurred just a few hundred feet south of Dewey's Cafe and Garage, on a short concrete bridge. Dewey DeWitt, proprietor, who was one of the first to reach the scene, aided by other volunteers, helped control, traffic on both sides of the accident. It is estimated that more than 200 vehicles were held up in either direction. The accident happened around 8:15 o'clock.
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