ALBERTS, Kent R. 1947-1967

ALBERTS, BOWERS

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/19/2019 at 07:09:04

Youth Killed In Car Crash East Of Dike

A 20-year-old Dike youth, Kent Alberts, was killed at 2:05 a.m. Saturday when the car he was driving left Highway 57 and crashed and burned in a cornfield four miles east of Dike.

He is Grundy county's fifth traffic fatality of 1967.

Injured seriously in the same accident was Charges Christensen, 18, also of Dike, who is being treated at Allen Memorial Hospital for a broken nose, collarbone separation, head and face cuts, and severe bruises.

Christiansen was in the Waterloo hospital's intensive care ward at last report.

Both young men were passengers in a 1967 Chevrolet driven by Alberts which was going west toward Dike on Highway 57.

The car left the highway at a curve near the Dietrick Turkey Farm, clipped off a utility pole, smashed through two fences, and flipped upside down in a cornfield on the farm owned by Hans Petersen of Dike.

The gas tank exploded upon impact, engulfing the car in flames.

Alberts died in the fiery wreckage.

It has not been determined whether Christensen was thrown out of the car or crawled free. He was not in the car when it exploded.

A passing motorist, Donald Heisler of Dike, found Christensen about 2:20 a.m. near the highway, and drove the youth to the home of his parents in Dike. Authorities were immediately notified, and the Christensen youth was rushed to the hospital by ambulance.

The Dike fire department went to the accident scene and extinguished the flames. And a wrecker was called, which righted the car.

Attempts were then made to remove the body, but failed. The car had to be towed to Cedar Falls, where fire department cutting torches were used to free the body.

Assistant Grundy county medical examiner, Dr. James Scott, joined the Grundy county sheriff's office in investigating the accident.

Alberts body was returned to Dike, where funeral services were held this Tuesday afternoon.

Services for Kent Alberts were held at the Dike First Methodist Church at 1:30 p.m. last Tuesday, Dec. 26. Burial in the Elmwood Cemetery. Dike Funeral Chapel was in charge of arrangements. Rev. Lloyd Bair officiated.

Kent was a 1965 graduate of the Dike Community School. During his high school career he was a member of the Dike Varsity Club, played football for 6 years and wrestled 2 years. He was a member of the Dike First Methodist Church and had been employed at home until this fall when he was employed at the Ubben Building Supply lumber yard.

He is survived by his parents Mr. and Mrs. Howard Bowers of rural Grundy Center; his father, Glen Alberts of rural Cedar Falls; grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Jake Alberts of Dike; brother Keith both at home.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 28 December 1967, pg 1, 6