CHARLES RUZEK
Charles Ruzek Killed; Tar Wagon Pulled by Truck Bursts Into Flames
Charles Ruzek, 50, Melnik, was fatally injured this morning when he fell or jumped from a county highway truck on which he was riding as a tar wagon pulled behind the truck burst into flames. Ruzek suffered a cerebral concussion and a crushed chest. He died at about 5 o'clock, an hour after the accident, at the Holy Family hospital.
Headed For Four Corners
With the rest of a six man crew, riding in two trucks, Ruzek left the highway sheds on Waldo Boulevard at about four o'clock this morning. They were headed for Four Corners to tar cracks in the pavement. As they rounded the bend of Highway 10, on the west end of Waldo Boulevard, Ruzek noticed the tar wagon burst into flames.
There were two fire extinguishers on the truck and it is not known whether Ruzek fell while reaching for one of them or was caught beneath the truck while jumping to the ground.
The truck, traveling at a slow rate of speed, was stopped well within ten feet of the spot where the flames broke out. Ruzek's body was lying between the front and rear wheels of the truck toward the center of the highway. The truck wheels could not have passed over his body. It is believed the rear wheel struck him and dragged him for several feet, crushing his chest. Ruzek was conscious when taken from under the truck. "I'm done for," he gasped, according to men who were with him. He was rushed to the hospital in the city ambulance. He died an hour later.
William Klackner was driving the truck on which Ruzek was riding.
(continued on page 2)/(continued from page 1)
Others in the crew were Louis Marshek, Arthur Klackner, William Holmes and Edward Wegner.
Tar Wagon Destroyed
We asked him to ride in the cab just before we started, but he said "no, it's such a nice day I'll ride outside," one of the crew members said this morning. Sheriff Norman Berkedal and Coroner Gerald Rau were summoned in the
scene shortly after the accident occurred. The tar wagon was destroyed by fire. Tar poured from the wagon and flowed along the gutter on the curve and into the ditch at the side of the roadway.
According to Highway Commissioner Edward Berkedal, Ruzek had been employed by the county for the past three years. His is the second death on the county crew this month. James Wadzinski, Rockwood, was killed a week ago last Monday in the county highway sheds when he was hit by a tire rim which sprung from a tire he was inflating.
Funeral services for Mr. Ruzek will be held Sunday afternoon at 2:30 from the home in Melnik. The American Legion will have charge of the services. He will be buried with military honors in the uniform he wore while serving as a private in the 40th Field Artillery during the World War.
Born At Kossuth
Mr. Ruzek was born Dec. 5, 1886 in the town of Kossuth. He attended school there and in 1919 was married to Libbie Jirikovec, after he had been mustered out of the army.
He was a member of the Guy Drews Post, American Legion. All service men were asked today to attend the funeral. The body will be removed to the home from the Husar funeral home in Kellnersville Saturday afternoon. Burial will be held in the Bohemian National cemetery, east of Polifka's Corners.
Survivors include his widow, two daughters, (private); two sons (private); three sisters, Mrs. John Swoboda of Chicago and Mrs. Charles Gerland and Mrs. Mary Herschmiller, Antioch, Ill., and a brother, Joseph of Kellnersville.
Manitowoc Herald Times, Friday, May 28 p. 1-2
Charles Ruzek Killed; Tar Wagon Pulled by Truck Bursts Into Flames
Charles Ruzek, 50, Melnik, was fatally injured this morning when he fell or jumped from a county highway truck on which he was riding as a tar wagon pulled behind the truck burst into flames. Ruzek suffered a cerebral concussion and a crushed chest. He died at about 5 o'clock, an hour after the accident, at the Holy Family hospital.
Headed For Four Corners
With the rest of a six man crew, riding in two trucks, Ruzek left the highway sheds on Waldo Boulevard at about four o'clock this morning. They were headed for Four Corners to tar cracks in the pavement. As they rounded the bend of Highway 10, on the west end of Waldo Boulevard, Ruzek noticed the tar wagon burst into flames.
There were two fire extinguishers on the truck and it is not known whether Ruzek fell while reaching for one of them or was caught beneath the truck while jumping to the ground.
The truck, traveling at a slow rate of speed, was stopped well within ten feet of the spot where the flames broke out. Ruzek's body was lying between the front and rear wheels of the truck toward the center of the highway. The truck wheels could not have passed over his body. It is believed the rear wheel struck him and dragged him for several feet, crushing his chest. Ruzek was conscious when taken from under the truck. "I'm done for," he gasped, according to men who were with him. He was rushed to the hospital in the city ambulance. He died an hour later.
William Klackner was driving the truck on which Ruzek was riding.
(continued on page 2)/(continued from page 1)
Others in the crew were Louis Marshek, Arthur Klackner, William Holmes and Edward Wegner.
Tar Wagon Destroyed
We asked him to ride in the cab just before we started, but he said "no, it's such a nice day I'll ride outside," one of the crew members said this morning. Sheriff Norman Berkedal and Coroner Gerald Rau were summoned in the
scene shortly after the accident occurred. The tar wagon was destroyed by fire. Tar poured from the wagon and flowed along the gutter on the curve and into the ditch at the side of the roadway.
According to Highway Commissioner Edward Berkedal, Ruzek had been employed by the county for the past three years. His is the second death on the county crew this month. James Wadzinski, Rockwood, was killed a week ago last Monday in the county highway sheds when he was hit by a tire rim which sprung from a tire he was inflating.
Funeral services for Mr. Ruzek will be held Sunday afternoon at 2:30 from the home in Melnik. The American Legion will have charge of the services. He will be buried with military honors in the uniform he wore while serving as a private in the 40th Field Artillery during the World War.
Born At Kossuth
Mr. Ruzek was born Dec. 5, 1886 in the town of Kossuth. He attended school there and in 1919 was married to Libbie Jirikovec, after he had been mustered out of the army.
He was a member of the Guy Drews Post, American Legion. All service men were asked today to attend the funeral. The body will be removed to the home from the Husar funeral home in Kellnersville Saturday afternoon. Burial will be held in the Bohemian National cemetery, east of Polifka's Corners.
Survivors include his widow, two daughters, (private); two sons (private); three sisters, Mrs. John Swoboda of Chicago and Mrs. Charles Gerland and Mrs. Mary Herschmiller, Antioch, Ill., and a brother, Joseph of Kellnersville.
Manitowoc Herald Times, Friday, May 28 p. 1-2
CHARLES RUZEK
Charles Ruzek Killed; Tar Wagon Pulled by Truck Bursts Into Flames
Charles Ruzek, 50, Melnik, was fatally injured this morning when he fell or jumped from a county highway truck on which he was riding as a tar wagon pulled behind the truck burst into flames. Ruzek suffered a cerebral concussion and a crushed chest. He died at about 5 o'clock, an hour after the accident, at the Holy Family hospital.
Headed For Four Corners
With the rest of a six man crew, riding in two trucks, Ruzek left the highway sheds on Waldo Boulevard at about four o'clock this morning. They were headed for Four Corners to tar cracks in the pavement. As they rounded the bend of Highway 10, on the west end of Waldo Boulevard, Ruzek noticed the tar wagon burst into flames.
There were two fire extinguishers on the truck and it is not known whether Ruzek fell while reaching for one of them or was caught beneath the truck while jumping to the ground.
The truck, traveling at a slow rate of speed, was stopped well within ten feet of the spot where the flames broke out. Ruzek's body was lying between the front and rear wheels of the truck toward the center of the highway. The truck wheels could not have passed over his body. It is believed the rear wheel struck him and dragged him for several feet, crushing his chest. Ruzek was conscious when taken from under the truck. "I'm done for," he gasped, according to men who were with him. He was rushed to the hospital in the city ambulance. He died an hour later.
William Klackner was driving the truck on which Ruzek was riding.
(continued on page 2)/(continued from page 1)
Others in the crew were Louis Marshek, Arthur Klackner, William Holmes and Edward Wegner.
Tar Wagon Destroyed
We asked him to ride in the cab just before we started, but he said "no, it's such a nice day I'll ride outside," one of the crew members said this morning. Sheriff Norman Berkedal and Coroner Gerald Rau were summoned in the
scene shortly after the accident occurred. The tar wagon was destroyed by fire. Tar poured from the wagon and flowed along the gutter on the curve and into the ditch at the side of the roadway.
According to Highway Commissioner Edward Berkedal, Ruzek had been employed by the county for the past three years. His is the second death on the county crew this month. James Wadzinski, Rockwood, was killed a week ago last Monday in the county highway sheds when he was hit by a tire rim which sprung from a tire he was inflating.
Funeral services for Mr. Ruzek will be held Sunday afternoon at 2:30 from the home in Melnik. The American Legion will have charge of the services. He will be buried with military honors in the uniform he wore while serving as a private in the 40th Field Artillery during the World War.
Born At Kossuth
Mr. Ruzek was born Dec. 5, 1886 in the town of Kossuth. He attended school there and in 1919 was married to Libbie Jirikovec, after he had been mustered out of the army.
He was a member of the Guy Drews Post, American Legion. All service men were asked today to attend the funeral. The body will be removed to the home from the Husar funeral home in Kellnersville Saturday afternoon. Burial will be held in the Bohemian National cemetery, east of Polifka's Corners.
Survivors include his widow, two daughters, (private); two sons (private); three sisters, Mrs. John Swoboda of Chicago and Mrs. Charles Gerland and Mrs. Mary Herschmiller, Antioch, Ill., and a brother, Joseph of Kellnersville.
Manitowoc Herald Times, Friday, May 28 p. 1-2
Charles Ruzek Killed; Tar Wagon Pulled by Truck Bursts Into Flames
Charles Ruzek, 50, Melnik, was fatally injured this morning when he fell or jumped from a county highway truck on which he was riding as a tar wagon pulled behind the truck burst into flames. Ruzek suffered a cerebral concussion and a crushed chest. He died at about 5 o'clock, an hour after the accident, at the Holy Family hospital.
Headed For Four Corners
With the rest of a six man crew, riding in two trucks, Ruzek left the highway sheds on Waldo Boulevard at about four o'clock this morning. They were headed for Four Corners to tar cracks in the pavement. As they rounded the bend of Highway 10, on the west end of Waldo Boulevard, Ruzek noticed the tar wagon burst into flames.
There were two fire extinguishers on the truck and it is not known whether Ruzek fell while reaching for one of them or was caught beneath the truck while jumping to the ground.
The truck, traveling at a slow rate of speed, was stopped well within ten feet of the spot where the flames broke out. Ruzek's body was lying between the front and rear wheels of the truck toward the center of the highway. The truck wheels could not have passed over his body. It is believed the rear wheel struck him and dragged him for several feet, crushing his chest. Ruzek was conscious when taken from under the truck. "I'm done for," he gasped, according to men who were with him. He was rushed to the hospital in the city ambulance. He died an hour later.
William Klackner was driving the truck on which Ruzek was riding.
(continued on page 2)/(continued from page 1)
Others in the crew were Louis Marshek, Arthur Klackner, William Holmes and Edward Wegner.
Tar Wagon Destroyed
We asked him to ride in the cab just before we started, but he said "no, it's such a nice day I'll ride outside," one of the crew members said this morning. Sheriff Norman Berkedal and Coroner Gerald Rau were summoned in the
scene shortly after the accident occurred. The tar wagon was destroyed by fire. Tar poured from the wagon and flowed along the gutter on the curve and into the ditch at the side of the roadway.
According to Highway Commissioner Edward Berkedal, Ruzek had been employed by the county for the past three years. His is the second death on the county crew this month. James Wadzinski, Rockwood, was killed a week ago last Monday in the county highway sheds when he was hit by a tire rim which sprung from a tire he was inflating.
Funeral services for Mr. Ruzek will be held Sunday afternoon at 2:30 from the home in Melnik. The American Legion will have charge of the services. He will be buried with military honors in the uniform he wore while serving as a private in the 40th Field Artillery during the World War.
Born At Kossuth
Mr. Ruzek was born Dec. 5, 1886 in the town of Kossuth. He attended school there and in 1919 was married to Libbie Jirikovec, after he had been mustered out of the army.
He was a member of the Guy Drews Post, American Legion. All service men were asked today to attend the funeral. The body will be removed to the home from the Husar funeral home in Kellnersville Saturday afternoon. Burial will be held in the Bohemian National cemetery, east of Polifka's Corners.
Survivors include his widow, two daughters, (private); two sons (private); three sisters, Mrs. John Swoboda of Chicago and Mrs. Charles Gerland and Mrs. Mary Herschmiller, Antioch, Ill., and a brother, Joseph of Kellnersville.
Manitowoc Herald Times, Friday, May 28 p. 1-2
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