Buried on the Stephen J. Kirby plot. Son of Edward Francis Kirby and Alta M. Byrd.
_________________________________________________
The Dixon Telegraph
November 3, 1941
Page 1, Col 6
Headline story
Fatal Automobile Collision on Steward Spur -----
TWO KILLED; FOUR SERIOUSLY HURT
Three of Injured Reported Critical; Inquest Postponed
Dale Kirby, 18, Donna Ruth Watkins, 3, Die in Auto Wreckage
Two persons were killed almost instantly and four others injured in a head on collision on the Steward spur about one and one-half miles miles east of Steward Sunday evening about 10:30 o'clock when machines going in opposite directions crashed and were demolished. Three of the four injured were reported to be in critical condition today at the Lincoln hospital in Rochelle, were the fourth was expected to be released probably Tuesday.
Dale Kirby, 18, son of Mrs. Edward Kirby, who graduated from the Steward High School last June and had been employed by the Northern Illinois Finance Co. of DeKalb, and three year old Donna Ruth Watkins were the fatalities in the head on crash, both being almost instantly killed, their bodies mangled in the wreckage.
Mr. and Mrs Frank Watkins, who reside on the Clinton Ellsworth Farm north east of Steward, parents of the child, and their hired man, Frank Killion, 22, of Tennessee, were reported to be in critical condition, Killion suffered fractures of both legs, while Mr. and Mrs. Watkins suffered fractures and several cuts.
REPORT LIGHTLESS CAR
Robert Wrigley, son of Mrs. Clyde Wrigley, who lives west of Scarboro, sustained deep cuts about the legs, and numerous body bruises. At the Rochelle hospital today, it was stated that he had recovered from the shock and it was expected that he would be able to return to his home Tuesday.
There were reports today that one of the cars was being driven without lights, while at the hospital occupants of both machines were said to have stated that they observed no lights on either machine until the crash occurred.
Kirby and Wrigley were said to have attended a church party in Steward Sunday evening, after which they decided to take a ride before going home. They were reported driving west on the Steward spur when the crash occurred. At the scene of the crash it appeared that both machines were driving on the ten foot concrete slab when they collided. Some of the crash victims were thrown clear of the cars by the impact. In the second car which was driving east on the spur highway, were Mr. and Mrs. Watkins and three year old daughter and their hired man Killion.
The crash attracted the attention of residents along the spur highway who hurried to the scene. Physicians and ambulances from Rochelle were summoned and the bodies of the two victims were taken to the Unger funeral home in Rochelle, while the injured were rushed to Lincoln hospital in that city. The Lee county coroner empanelled a jury at Steward today, taking them to Rochelle, where they viewed the bodies. The time for the inquest was not set, pending the recovery of the other victims of the crash.
_________________________________________________
The Dixon Telegraph
November 3, 1941
Page 1, Col 6
Headline story
Fatal Automobile Collision on Steward Spur -----
TWO KILLED; FOUR SERIOUSLY HURT
Three of Injured Reported Critical; Inquest Postponed
Dale Kirby, 18, Donna Ruth Watkins, 3, Die in Auto Wreckage
Two persons were killed almost instantly and four others injured in a head on collision on the Steward spur about one and one-half miles miles east of Steward Sunday evening about 10:30 o'clock when machines going in opposite directions crashed and were demolished. Three of the four injured were reported to be in critical condition today at the Lincoln hospital in Rochelle, were the fourth was expected to be released probably Tuesday.
Dale Kirby, 18, son of Mrs. Edward Kirby, who graduated from the Steward High School last June and had been employed by the Northern Illinois Finance Co. of DeKalb, and three year old Donna Ruth Watkins were the fatalities in the head on crash, both being almost instantly killed, their bodies mangled in the wreckage.
Mr. and Mrs Frank Watkins, who reside on the Clinton Ellsworth Farm north east of Steward, parents of the child, and their hired man, Frank Killion, 22, of Tennessee, were reported to be in critical condition, Killion suffered fractures of both legs, while Mr. and Mrs. Watkins suffered fractures and several cuts.
REPORT LIGHTLESS CAR
Robert Wrigley, son of Mrs. Clyde Wrigley, who lives west of Scarboro, sustained deep cuts about the legs, and numerous body bruises. At the Rochelle hospital today, it was stated that he had recovered from the shock and it was expected that he would be able to return to his home Tuesday.
There were reports today that one of the cars was being driven without lights, while at the hospital occupants of both machines were said to have stated that they observed no lights on either machine until the crash occurred.
Kirby and Wrigley were said to have attended a church party in Steward Sunday evening, after which they decided to take a ride before going home. They were reported driving west on the Steward spur when the crash occurred. At the scene of the crash it appeared that both machines were driving on the ten foot concrete slab when they collided. Some of the crash victims were thrown clear of the cars by the impact. In the second car which was driving east on the spur highway, were Mr. and Mrs. Watkins and three year old daughter and their hired man Killion.
The crash attracted the attention of residents along the spur highway who hurried to the scene. Physicians and ambulances from Rochelle were summoned and the bodies of the two victims were taken to the Unger funeral home in Rochelle, while the injured were rushed to Lincoln hospital in that city. The Lee county coroner empanelled a jury at Steward today, taking them to Rochelle, where they viewed the bodies. The time for the inquest was not set, pending the recovery of the other victims of the crash.
Buried on the Stephen J. Kirby plot. Son of Edward Francis Kirby and Alta M. Byrd.
_________________________________________________
The Dixon Telegraph
November 3, 1941
Page 1, Col 6
Headline story
Fatal Automobile Collision on Steward Spur -----
TWO KILLED; FOUR SERIOUSLY HURT
Three of Injured Reported Critical; Inquest Postponed
Dale Kirby, 18, Donna Ruth Watkins, 3, Die in Auto Wreckage
Two persons were killed almost instantly and four others injured in a head on collision on the Steward spur about one and one-half miles miles east of Steward Sunday evening about 10:30 o'clock when machines going in opposite directions crashed and were demolished. Three of the four injured were reported to be in critical condition today at the Lincoln hospital in Rochelle, were the fourth was expected to be released probably Tuesday.
Dale Kirby, 18, son of Mrs. Edward Kirby, who graduated from the Steward High School last June and had been employed by the Northern Illinois Finance Co. of DeKalb, and three year old Donna Ruth Watkins were the fatalities in the head on crash, both being almost instantly killed, their bodies mangled in the wreckage.
Mr. and Mrs Frank Watkins, who reside on the Clinton Ellsworth Farm north east of Steward, parents of the child, and their hired man, Frank Killion, 22, of Tennessee, were reported to be in critical condition, Killion suffered fractures of both legs, while Mr. and Mrs. Watkins suffered fractures and several cuts.
REPORT LIGHTLESS CAR
Robert Wrigley, son of Mrs. Clyde Wrigley, who lives west of Scarboro, sustained deep cuts about the legs, and numerous body bruises. At the Rochelle hospital today, it was stated that he had recovered from the shock and it was expected that he would be able to return to his home Tuesday.
There were reports today that one of the cars was being driven without lights, while at the hospital occupants of both machines were said to have stated that they observed no lights on either machine until the crash occurred.
Kirby and Wrigley were said to have attended a church party in Steward Sunday evening, after which they decided to take a ride before going home. They were reported driving west on the Steward spur when the crash occurred. At the scene of the crash it appeared that both machines were driving on the ten foot concrete slab when they collided. Some of the crash victims were thrown clear of the cars by the impact. In the second car which was driving east on the spur highway, were Mr. and Mrs. Watkins and three year old daughter and their hired man Killion.
The crash attracted the attention of residents along the spur highway who hurried to the scene. Physicians and ambulances from Rochelle were summoned and the bodies of the two victims were taken to the Unger funeral home in Rochelle, while the injured were rushed to Lincoln hospital in that city. The Lee county coroner empanelled a jury at Steward today, taking them to Rochelle, where they viewed the bodies. The time for the inquest was not set, pending the recovery of the other victims of the crash.
_________________________________________________
The Dixon Telegraph
November 3, 1941
Page 1, Col 6
Headline story
Fatal Automobile Collision on Steward Spur -----
TWO KILLED; FOUR SERIOUSLY HURT
Three of Injured Reported Critical; Inquest Postponed
Dale Kirby, 18, Donna Ruth Watkins, 3, Die in Auto Wreckage
Two persons were killed almost instantly and four others injured in a head on collision on the Steward spur about one and one-half miles miles east of Steward Sunday evening about 10:30 o'clock when machines going in opposite directions crashed and were demolished. Three of the four injured were reported to be in critical condition today at the Lincoln hospital in Rochelle, were the fourth was expected to be released probably Tuesday.
Dale Kirby, 18, son of Mrs. Edward Kirby, who graduated from the Steward High School last June and had been employed by the Northern Illinois Finance Co. of DeKalb, and three year old Donna Ruth Watkins were the fatalities in the head on crash, both being almost instantly killed, their bodies mangled in the wreckage.
Mr. and Mrs Frank Watkins, who reside on the Clinton Ellsworth Farm north east of Steward, parents of the child, and their hired man, Frank Killion, 22, of Tennessee, were reported to be in critical condition, Killion suffered fractures of both legs, while Mr. and Mrs. Watkins suffered fractures and several cuts.
REPORT LIGHTLESS CAR
Robert Wrigley, son of Mrs. Clyde Wrigley, who lives west of Scarboro, sustained deep cuts about the legs, and numerous body bruises. At the Rochelle hospital today, it was stated that he had recovered from the shock and it was expected that he would be able to return to his home Tuesday.
There were reports today that one of the cars was being driven without lights, while at the hospital occupants of both machines were said to have stated that they observed no lights on either machine until the crash occurred.
Kirby and Wrigley were said to have attended a church party in Steward Sunday evening, after which they decided to take a ride before going home. They were reported driving west on the Steward spur when the crash occurred. At the scene of the crash it appeared that both machines were driving on the ten foot concrete slab when they collided. Some of the crash victims were thrown clear of the cars by the impact. In the second car which was driving east on the spur highway, were Mr. and Mrs. Watkins and three year old daughter and their hired man Killion.
The crash attracted the attention of residents along the spur highway who hurried to the scene. Physicians and ambulances from Rochelle were summoned and the bodies of the two victims were taken to the Unger funeral home in Rochelle, while the injured were rushed to Lincoln hospital in that city. The Lee county coroner empanelled a jury at Steward today, taking them to Rochelle, where they viewed the bodies. The time for the inquest was not set, pending the recovery of the other victims of the crash.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
