William (Billy) Adams 1947-1963

ADAMS

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 1/16/2020 at 08:09:24

16 May 1963 - The Tipton Conservative

William Clarence (Billy) Adams, 15, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Adams of Tipton was killed instantly, and Patricia Lasley, 15, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Lasley of Bennett, was fatally injured in a car-bus crash May 11.

Roy Osterkamp, 16, son of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Osterkamp of Tipton, was seriously injured in the accident which took place at the intersection of Highway 38 and "Old 1", 7 miles south of Tipton at about 6 p.m.

Adams died of head and internal injuries when he was thrown from the car. Miss Lasley died about 9 p.m. the same night at University hospital in Iowa City of internal injuries.

Osterkamp was moved from the "post-operative" room at University hospital to a large ward May 13. Visitors that day said that he "recognized" them, but he is not yet in a condition to be questioned.

His injuries include a broken leg, 6 broken ribs and head and internal injuries.

The 3 young people were riding in a 1955 Mercury, registered to Osterkamp's father, Herman, and approached the intersection from the east. They had stopped a few minutes before and spoken to Osterkamp's brother, Dennis, at a farm southeast of Tipton.

It is not known who was the driver of the car and officers have not been able to talk to Osterkamp at the hospital because of his condition.

As the Osterkamp car approached the intersection from the east, a Knox college bus, transporting the college baseball team, approached the intersection from the north.

Richard H. Winter Sr., Galesburg, Ill., driver of the bus, told officers at the scene that he saw the car approach the intersection at what he believed to be a slow rate of speed. He did not remember whether the car stopped or came almost to a halt; he suddenly saw the car in front of his bus, then the crash.

The car was in the west lane of traffic when it was struck. The impact crumpled the car under the front of the bus, and it was dragged down the highway for 250 feet before the bus was stopped.

All 3 young people were thrown from the car, into the west ditch. Adams was to the north, about 35 or 40 feet southwest of where the crash took place. Miss Lasley was approximately 76 feet south of Adams and Osterkamp 3 feet south of Miss Lasley. The entire top of the car was torn off.

A call was made from the Robert Thumma farm for the sheriff and ambulances. The highway patrol was notified and 4 members of the patrol arrived on the scene a short time later, after Sheriff Jack Leverenz arrived.

Osterkamp had received his driver's license sometime Friday, passing his driving examination in Tipton. However, he had gone to Cedar Rapids the week before, where he passed the written examination.

It is not know where the group was going at the time of the accident. Authorities say that they think Osterkamp and Adams picked up the Lasley girl at her home near Bennett about 4 p.m.

Funeral services for William Clarence Adams were held May 14 at the Sheets and Dahn funeral home with the Rev. I. O. Espeseth in charge.

Pallbearers were 6 classmates: Russell Streets, Don Shotwell, Larry Kimzey, Allan Stout, Mike Schwitzer and Charles Carlson.

Donna Cole was vocalist with Laura Geller, organist. Mrs. Raymond Knouse and Mrs. Vince Carlson were in charge of flowers.

The son of Clarence and Lula Greiner Adams, he was born at Tipton Aug. 30, 1947 and spent all his life in Tipton. He was a student in the Tipton school.

In the recent junior high WaMaC track meet he placed first in both the 100 and 220 yard dashes.

He is survived by his parents; 3 brothers, Earl, Homestead, Fla., Clifford, living in Puerto Rico and Ray, Durant; 5 sisters, Shirley, living in Nebraska; Alice, living in Florida; Mary, Iowa City and Joyce and Carol, at home and his grandmother, Harriet Adams, Tipton.