Daily Jeffersonian (Cambridge, Ohio) July 13, 1942, Page 3

THREE BARNESVILLE YOUTHS KILLED IN AUTO ACCIDENT

All Sustained Fractured Skulls As Car Hits Bridge

Barnesville, O, July 3- Three young people of this community lost their lives in an automobile accident on Leatherwood Road near the Tickhill residence Saturday evening about 6:30 o'clock. Miss Ruth Kline, Barnesville, and Robert Triplett, near Eldon, were instantly killed and Alonzo Betts, Barnesville, driver of the car, died in the Barnesville hospital at 3:30 o'clock Sunday morning. All three sustained fractured skulls and other injuries. Three other passengers in the car, Triplett's mother and his sister and Joseph Toohey escaped without injury. According to reports, the car was being driven toward Barnesville at a fast speed in an attempt to bring young Triplett, who was a private in the U. S. Army, to a train to return to camp. The car failed to make a sharp curve in the road, sideswiped a large truck traveling west on the highway, and crashed into a concrete bridge abutment. Triplett and the Kline girl were riding in the back seat and received fatal head and chest injuries when one side of the car was torn completely away. William Peddicord, owner and driver of the truck, which was hit, was uninjured. His truck was slightly damaged. A large section of guard rail was torn away when he attempted to get out of the way of the car. State highway patrolmen investigated the accident. The body of Triplett was taken to the Eberle funeral home in Quaker City. Remains of Miss Kline were taken to the Campbell funeral home where they were prepared for burial.

Otha Alonzo Betts was born in St. Mary's W. Va., on Feb. 14, 1923, a son of James M. and Emma Logan Betts. He had been employed as a day laborer in Barnesville, since leaving school a few years ago. Surviving is his parents and the following brothers and sisters; Mrs. Willard Ochsenbein, Barnesville; Harold, Gail, Junior, Charles and Richard Betts, all of the home; Henry Betts, Baileys Mills and Mrs. Lewis Luyster, Barnesville. His grandmother, Mrs. Etta Logan, Barnesville, is also bereaved. The body was taken to the Campbell funeral home where last rites will be conducted Tuesday morning at ten o'clock by his pastor, Rev. Frank Brickley of the Church of the Nazarene. Burial will be made in a cemetery at Calais.