Thomas Joseph Morrow 1947-1968

MORROW, SHAY, NIETZEL, HARTMAN

Posted By: Lynn McCleary (email)
Date: 7/23/2023 at 06:07:28

Muscatine Journal May 21, 1968 page 1

MCC Students Trapped in Car
Plunge Off Curve Kills 3 Youths

Three Muscatine Community college students died of severe crushing injuries in a single-car accident which happened 11:02 p.m. Monday at the west edge of Muscatine on Hershey Avenue.

Thomas Joseph Morrow, 21, rural Muscatine, driver of the car, died at the scene of crushed head and chest.

Gregory Eugene Shay 19, 2004 Circle Drive, and Harvey Andrew Nietzel, 19, 720 Woodlawn Ave., Died shortly before 12:30 a.m. today at Muscatine General hospital emergency room.

Shay suffered head and chest injuries, and broken Hip and ribs.

Nietzel had a broken neck and head injuries.
The black 1968 Chevrolet Camaro registered to Morrow’s mother was demolished in the accident.
Patrolmen, wrecking truck operators and ambulance service drivers worked for 45 minutes to free the three youths from the car which was hanging front end downward,, with its rear wheels on a stone wall. The frame was hooked on an iron pipe projecting from the wall.

The car went out of control while traveling at a high rate of speed went into the curve, said Muscatine patrolmen.

The curve is known as “Smalley’s Corner,’ and is shaped like a gradual backward “S”.

The car continued west across the curve, then became airborne for about 45 feet as it flew off an embankment at a creek-bed, turned about, and struck the stone wall with the car’s rear end, it was reported by patrolmen.

Morrow’s body was partially in the driver’s seat when found by patrolmen. Shay was in the font passenger section, and Nietzel was in the right rear seat. Nietzel was calling for help when patrolmen arrived.

Police arrived shortly after the accident was called in, and Riley’s ambulance service and Schmidt’s wrecker service were summoned.

Two hoisting chains from wrecking truck wenches were fastened to the car to keep it from falling off the stone wall while the youths were freed. The top of the car was flattened out, trapping the youths, and had to be popped back into shape.
Morrow died shortly after the accident happened. The other two were taken to the hospital for emergency treatment. Patrolmen reported that Shay did at 12:20 a.m. and Nietzel 12:25 a.m.

Obituary
Thomas J. Morrow
Funeral services for Thomas J. Morrow, son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Morrow, RT. 3, will be held at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Mathias church with the Rev. Thomas Doyle officiating.

The body is at the Ralph J. Wittich funeral home, where the rosary will be said at 8 o’clock this evening. The casket will remain closed. Burial will be at the family mausoleum at St. Mary’s cemetery.

Thomas was born Jan. 13, 1947, in Muscatine, the son of Paul and Vincentza Majoine Morrow. He was a member of St. Mathias church and had been a student at the Muscatine campus of Eastern Iowa Community College.

Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Morrow; and his paternal grandmother Mrs. Blanche Hartman of Muscatine.