Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1950-10-03


Killed in the crash were:
Cecil Rice, 38, driver Of the
car; Florence v. Archie, 80;
Mrs. Martha Lowery, rs; Mrs.
Frances Patton and John Mar
tin all Of springfield.
The two survivors were
Benjamin Rice, 35, brother of
tho car driver whose escape
from the totally demolished
car was virtually miraculous
and George n. Mcclure, 2s,
Of Columbus, driver OF the
truck.
Both Rice and Mcclure
were taken to Mt. Carmel
Hospital where Mcclure's
condition still remains serious.
The State Highway Patrol Of
ficers, investigating the accident
with the Madison County Sheriff
Harold Bidwell and deputies, re-
ported that the truck was owned
by the Commercial Motor Freight
Inc, of Columbus.
Canton Driver
Eugene S. Hall, 33, of Canton,
Ohio, was driver of the other
truck figuring in the accident, ac-
cording to investigating officers:
They said he ditched his truck
on the right side of the road as
the car passed him and suffered
evere shock as a result OF the. ac-
cident.
The victims of the crash looked
like they had been in a train
wreck. according to the Madison
County cororer. All five bodies
were brought to London pending
identification and advice from
relatives.
The truck, driver by Mr.. Hall
and the auto in which the Spring
field residents vert riding. were
travelling toward Springfield when
the collision occurred about two
miles west of Lafayette.
McClure's truck. also one OF
the most completely demolished
large-size vehicles observed in this
arear in some time. was headed
east toward Columbus.
"Worst Ever"
Madison County Sheriff Har-
old Bidwell said the accident was
the worst he had ever seen.
THE auto was split in two
the engine thrown to one side OF
the highway and the top OF the
body to the other side"
Parts of the car were scattered
as though they had been thrown
into the air and had fallen like
leaves.
Apparently the occupants Of the
auto were returning to their
homes, according to the sheriff.
The. fog was reported very heavy
at the time of the accident, around
A q. m
A witness was reported saying
the late model OldsmObile coupe
was travelling at least 70 miles an
hour when it crashed headon into
the truck loaded with steel, the
sheriff reported.
Mr.. Mcclure, driver of the
truck, whose street address was
given as 670 Neil Avenue, Co
lumbus, suffered internal injuries
and skull fracture.
Rice. the only survivor of those
in the car, suffered chest in
iuries and cuts on both knees. His
condition was reported fair.
First at Scene
Sheriff Harold Bidwell and
Deputy Bob Allison. notified OF
the accident by a passing motorist.
reached the scene probably half
hour ahead of Highway Patrolmen
McClurg and MOnas.
Mr.. Hall, driver OF the truck
the auto tried to pass, told the
Madison county officers how he
had watched the approaching
lights of the auto as it closed
in behind him.
. According to Deputy Allison.
Hall reported that the car looked
to him like it was flying" 1t
pulled into the left lane Of the
highway.
Hall said he had pulled over
for lights of the other truck were
coming from the opposite di,
rectiOn.
The auto and truck crashed
along side Of Halls truck as he
headed into the ditch.
Deputy Allison said the engine
OF the car Nas ripped out and
thrown hundred feet away from
where the crash occurred.