Kenneth Edward "Buddy" Hiles 1930-1953

HILES

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 11/12/2011 at 01:04:53

Emmet County Youth Killed When Car Goes Off Dead-End Road 2 Miles East of Here
Kenneth (Buddy) Hiles, 22 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. William Hiles who farm northeast of Estherville, was killed instantly Monday [July 20, 1953] evening when the car he was driving went off the dead end from the north two miles east of Graettinger. The accident occurred at the corner near the Ray Wikert farm where the pavement ends and Hiles was traveling south on the gravel road north of that intersection. The road forms a “T” at the intersection. There is a sharp rise in the gravel road just north of the dead-end intersection. He was alone in the car at the time of the accident, which was about 8 p.m.

Dr. John R. Hyde, Palo Alto county coroner, who investigated the accident along with Sheriff Dick Miller, said that it was possible that Hiles may have been in a diabetic coma. Hiles had been a diabetic since birth and medical examination indicated that he could have been unconscious in a coma of that kind at the time of the accident. Hyde also reported that Hiles’ injuries included a broken neck, crushed chest and multiple lacerations and contusions. Hiles was unmarried.

The car went across the pavement and sailed part way across the ditch, about four feet deep, and 12 to 15 feet across. The car struck the bank on the south side, plowed up the top of the bank, went through the fence and into the edge of the field there.

Friends of Hiles reported that he had been in Graettinger a short time before the accident and that he was going out in the country to pick up a friend of his. It was believed that Hiles was on his way back to Graettinger when the accident occurred.

Ray Wikert, farmer living just eat of the intersection reported that he heard the crash and ran out to investigate and although he reached the scene seconds after the crash. Hiles did not appear to be alive to be alive when he reached the car. Wikert called Graettinger police and the Graettinger doctor who immediately went to the scene of the crash.

Hiles had lived in Emmet county on his father’s farm northeast of Estherville all his life. He attended the Gruver schools. He was active in 4-H work in Emmet county.

He is survived by his parents, a brother, William, Jr. of Spirit Lake, a sister, Marian, a Davenport teacher who is visiting at home during the summer. (Graettinger Times, Graettinger, IA, July 23, 1953)