Harbin, Richard Michael 1994-2004

HARBIN, SHANNON, DEWITT, BOECKER, CARR, LEDGER, PRESLEY

Posted By: Debbie Nash (email)
Date: 9/19/2004 at 20:06:39

Lockridge boy killed, sister hurt in three-vehicle accident Friday
By Vicki Tillis, Ledger news editor September 13, 2004

A 10-year-old Lockridge boy was killed and his 16-year-old half sister was injured in a three vehicle accident at about 4:30 p.m. Friday at the intersection of Old Highway 34 and W55/Franklin Avenue in Henry County.

Killed was Richard M. Harbin, the son of Joseph and Kelly Harbin. Injured was Angela Shannon, the daughter of Randy Shannon and Kelly Harbin.

According to a preliminary accident report provided by the Iowa State Patrol, Angela Shannon's 1993 Chevy Beretta was traveling eastbound on Old Highway 34, failed to yield from a stop sign and pulled into the path of a northbound Mount Pleasant school bus driven by Ronald L. DeWitt, 60, of Mount Pleasant. The bus struck Shannon's car broadside causing it to rotate and enter the southbound lane where it was struck broadside by a 1999 Dodge Ram pickup, pulling a trailer, driven by Douglas L. Boecker, 36, of Mount Pleasant.

Shannon's vehicle and Boecker's pickup came to rest within the intersection, and the school bus stopped northeast of the intersection.

Richard Harbin was transported to Henry County Health Center in Mount Pleasant, where he was pronounced dead. Shannon also was transported to the Mount Pleasant hospital, then airlifted to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, where no information about her was available at press time.

The funeral for Richard will be held at 5 p.m. Thursday in the gym of the former Lockridge Elementary School. Burial will be in Lockridge Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at Weir & Kimzey Funeral Home in Mount Pleasant. The family will be present from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

A complete obituary is on page 8 today.

"Everybody is having a real hard time," said Joe Carr, principal of Pence Elementary School. "It's a shock to everyone."

According to Carr, Pence teachers have talked with their students about Richard's death. He and elementary counselor Kim Ledger and Southern Prairie Area Education Agency 15 counselor Steve Presley also talked with Richard's fifth grade classmates about the situation and have offered counseling services to those requesting it.

For the complete story, read the Sept. 13 Fairfield Ledger.

Courtesy of the Fairfield Daily Ledger Inc. 2004