KLETT, Michael Dean 1963 - 1983

KLETT, SPALLA, HECKETHORN, WEIGERT, CRAWFORD, MORAN

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 5/25/2021 at 20:22:46

"The Fairfield Ledger"
Friday, February 18, 1983
Front Page, Columns 3, 4, 5, and 6

KLETT killed in car-truck crash

A Fairfield man was killed in a head-on car-truck crash about 1:45 a.m. today seven miles east of Fairfield on Highway 34. Michael KLETT, 19, Route 2, was burned beyond recognition after his 1979 Datsun station wagon landed underneath a loaded semi trailer truck in a ditch.

The driver of the truck, Ronald D. Leckington, 43, of Newton, Kan., complained of minor back injuries, but was not hurt otherwise.

According to Iowa Highway Patrolmen at the scene, the KLETT car was eastbound in the wrong lane of the highway when it crashed into the westbound truck.

Leckington said he drove onto the shoulder and kept hoping the car would return to its lane but it never did.

Both vehicles plunged into a 30 feet embankment south of the highway.

A patrolman said Leckington was able to temporarily control a fire that started when the car's gas tank exploded, but the chemical from his fire extinguisher ran out and the fire raged.

Leckington, after getting no response at two nearby homes, was able to call police from the rural Lockridge home of Larry Harwood. The Fairfield Fire Department received the alarm at 1:51 a.m.

The fire was so intense it burned a hole into the aluminum tanker, full of dicalcium phosphate, a non-toxic cow laxative. The dry chemical helped smother the flames before firemen arrived with water to extinguish the blaze.

KLETT was killed instantly in the collision. It was several hours before his body could be removed from the wreckage and dental records were used to make positive identification.

There was an estimated $150,000 damage to the semi truck, trailer and cargo, which is owned by Dahlsten Truck Line of Clay Center, Neb.

This afternoon, a crane from Burlington and three wreckers continued their efforts to lift the truck, still loaded with 70,000 pounds of chemicals, out of the ditch.

The Jefferson County and Henry County Sheriff's Department plus the Iowa Department of Transportation assisted the Patrol at the wreck, which remains under investigation.

The patrol said fog was not a factor in the accident. Results are not known yet from a blood test performed by Jefferson County Medical Examiner T.J. Sutton.

"I've never seen a worse accident," said Roy Eubanks, who has been a trooper in Jefferson County the past 20 years. "The car looks like a twisted beer can.

"It's the first time I've ever seen a dead person wearing a seat belt," Eubanks added. Eubanks speculated that Leckington could have been seriously injured had he not been wearing a seat belt.

KLETT was the son of Jean SPALLA, Route 2. She was visiting KLETT's step-father in Illinois when notified of the death this morning. KLETT was a 1981 graduate of Fairfield High School. Services are pending at Behner Funeral Home.

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"The Fairfield (Ia.) Ledger"
Saturday, February 19, 1983
Page 10, Columns 5 and 6

Micheal KLETT services today

Services for Micheal D. KLETT, 19, Route 2, will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at Behner Funeral Home with the Rev. Paul D. Griffis officiating. Burial will be in Wright Cemetery southeast of Fairfield.

KLETT died at 1:45 a.m. Friday in a head-on car-truck crash seven miles east of Fairfield on Highway 34.

KLETT was born April 15, 1963 in Iowa City, the son of Roger and Jean HECKETHORN KLETT. He is survived by his mother Jean SPALLA and stepfather John SPALLA.

Other survivors include grandparents Mervin and Bessie HECKETHORN, Fairfield, and three sisters and two brothers: Corinna WEIGERT of Mt. Pleasant and Carla CRAWFORD, David MORAN, Tommy SPALLA and Nicole SPALLA, all of Fairfield.

KLETT lived his entire life in Jefferson County. He graduated from Fairfield High School in 1981. He was employed at the Havtwo Lounge.

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"The Fairfield (Ia.) Ledger"
Saturday, March 5, 1983
Page 6, Column 4

Memorial for Michael KLETT

A memorial has been established in memory of Michael KLETT who was instantly killed in a car-truck accident east of Fairfield Feb. 17.

Funds from the memorial will be used to place memorial book in the high school library and for mounting his picture on the headstone over his grave.

The memorial is being conducted by his family, former classmates and friends. Memorials may be left at the high school office.

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*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.