Death of Claude Lukins

LUKINS, DICKS, FLAKE, ADAMS, BIXBY

Posted By: Skipton
Date: 3/1/2011 at 11:52:51

A three car crash about 2:30 Saturday afternoon on Highway 92 about two miles east of the Ainsworth Junction of 218 and 92 in Washington County, resulted in the death of Claude Lukins of Columbus Junction, serious injuries to Melvin Dicks, local rural mail carrier and the filing of manslaughter charges against Donald Flake of Muscatine.

Mr. Lukins was apparently killed instantly. Mr. Dicks was rushed to the Washington County Hospital in a Washington ambulance and later transferred to Mercy Hospital at Iowa City. His injuries include a fracture of the right hip, rib, arm and head injuries. Reports from the hospital today indicate he is steadily improving. He is 61 instead of 70 as reported in local dailies.

Mr. Lukins, who was badly crushed was brought to the Stacy Funeral Home in this city in the Stacy ambulance.

Riding with Donald Flake, 22, of Muscatine were Lyndal Adams, 17, and Bob Bixby, 18, of Nichols.

The facts as gathered by Deputy Sheriff, Lloyd Robertson, of Washington, Sheriff Robert Lewis of this county and members of the highway patrol, seem to be about as follows: Mr. Lukins was driving west, close behind him were two or three cars, then the car driven by Flake, also going west. In a no passing zone, Flake, admitting he was driving 75 miles an hour, attempted to pass the cars ahead including Lukins, but as he reached the Lukins car he saw the Dicks car coming from the west and tried to cut in behind the Lukins car. In doing so his front bumper struck the left rear of the Lukins car throwing it directly in front of the Dicks Car. These two vehicles collided with such force that the one driven by Dicks crashed over the Lukins car which overturned, pinning Lukins beneath the wreckage. Both cars were demolished. The Flake car ran off the north shoulder of the highway and neither Flake, or the two young men with him were injured and the car, aside from a dent in the front was not seriously damaged.

No inquest was held, but Saturday evening Flake was charged with manslaughter by Attorney Clifford Morrison of Washington. Bond was placed at $5,000 which he was unable to furnish Saturday night and he was placed in the Washington jail. However, bail was provided Sunday and he was released.