Ubben, Ben Jr (1916-1939)

UBBEN

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 7/25/2015 at 08:13:23

Monday, September 18 and Tuesday, September 19, 1939

BEN UBBEN, JR. IS SERIOUSLY HURT IN CRASH

Injuries Suffered in Car-Truck Collision May Prove Fatal.

Ben Ubben, jr, 23, living south of Blairsburg, suffered injuries, which eventually may prove fatal in an automobile-truck collision three miles west of Blairsburg on the old Hawkeye road this forenoon.

He was brought to the hospital here where he is in critical condition. He suffered a fractured skull, cuts and bruises, Dr. W. B. Lewis, attending physician, said.

The accident occurred when Ubben, driving north, collided with a loaded gravel truck driven by Gerald Ratcliff, 29, of this city, Sheriff E.R. Lear said. Ratcliff was driving east, with the collision occuring at the intersection, the sheriff explained.

Sheriff Lear said the cause of the accident could probably be attributed to a field of corn which blocked the view of both drivers.

Ratcliff suffered a cut on his forehead, but was not believed seriously hurt. He was taken to the hospital for treatment. Harville Conklin, who was riding with Ratcliff, was said to have escaped injury.

Both the car and truck were badly damaged, the sheriff said.

Collision Injuries are Fatal to Ubben

SIXTH COUNTY TRAFFIC DEATH FOR THIS YEAR

Funeral Services Will Be Held Thursday; Burial Near Kamrar.

Injuries suffered in the automobile-truck collision a mile and a half west of Blairsburg yesterday, proved fatal to Ben Ubben, jr., 23, last night at the county public hospital.

This raises the highway death toll for Hamilton county to six compared with five for the corresponding period a year ago. However, the sixth highway death a year ago occurred Sept. 27.

Funeral services will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at the German Presbyterian church near Kamrar, with burial in the cemetery there. Rick, of Williams, will be in charge.

He was not married. He leaves his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Ubben, sr., living three miles north of Williams, and several brothers and sisters. He was born and reared in Liberty township.

Ubben was driving his automobile north on the road a mile and a half west of Blairsburg yesterday morning and Gerald Ratcliff, 29, city, was driving a gravel truck east on the old Hawkeye highway. The machines collided at the intersection and each was badly damaged.

Ubben was taken to the county hospital where it was learned he had suffered a fractured skull, cuts and bruises. He was given only the slimmest of chances to recover. By late afternoon he began to sink rapidly with death occurring in the evening.

Ratcliff escaped serious injury, only suffering a minor cut on his forehead. However, he was also taken to the county hospital for examination.

With Ratcliff in the truck at the time of the accident was Harville Conklin. He was not injured.

After inspecting the intersection following the collision, Sheriff E.R. Lear said that tall corn made a "blind" corner and that this hampered range of vision probably was a contributing factor to the subsequent fatality.