Fairchild, Frances M. (aka Frances M. Watts) 1923-1996

FAIRCHILD, BEHRENS, WATTS, BUSHEY

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 4/14/2025 at 15:24:58

Omaha World-Herald
July 24, 1996 — page 13

Spirit Lake Couple Die in Crash
By World Herald Staff Writer

A Spirit Lake couple were killed Tuesday when their car collided with a garbage truck on a highway northwest of Bennington, Neb., the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said.

Frances M. Watts, 73, was declared dead at the site of the 2:15 p.m. crash, Sheriff’s Office said. Her husband, Ronald L. Watts, 65, was taken by medical helicopter to University Hospital, where he died in surgery, a hospital spokeswoman said.

The couple had been traveling north on Nebraska Highway 31 when they collided with a westbound garbage truck at the intersection with Nebraska Highway 36, Martinec said.

Watts, who was driving a Lincoln Continental, stopped at a stop sign at the intersection and then proceeded north, Sgt. Joe Martinec said.

Martinec said eastbound and westbound traffic at the intersection does not stop. Witnesses told told investigators that it appeared Watts “pulled out right in front of the westbound garbage truck.”

The car was struck in the passenger’s side by the truck, he said.

“It appears to be human error,” Martenic said. “He (Watts) stopped for the stop sign, but he didn’t look again.” The sign at the intersection cautions traffic to check the road again for oncoming traffic, he said.

Rescue workers found both Watts and Mrs. Watts pinned in the car. When the woman was pulled from the car, she was dead. Investigators believe she died on impact, Martinec said.

The driver of the garbage truck, Dennis Christianson of Bennington, 39, was taken to Immanuel Medical Center after the accident. He was treated and released, said Sgt. John Hamill.

A third car, a BMW, that was stopped at the stop sign on Highway 31 in southbound lanes sustained minor damages in the accident, Martinec said.

The momentum of the collision made the Lincoln Continental sideswipe the BMW, he said. No one in the BMW was injured.

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The Sioux City Journal
Thursday, July 25, 1996 — Page 1

Spirit Lake Couple Die in Accident.
BENNINGTON, Neb. (AP) —
A Spirit Lake, Iowa couple died after their car collided with a garbage truck.

Ronald Watts, 65, was pronounced dead Tuesday at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha a few hours after the accident. His 73 year old wife, Frances, was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.

The couple’s car collided with the truck about three miles west of Bennington at about 2:15 p.m. The driver of the truck suffered minor injuries.

The couple’s death brings the number of people killed on Nebraska roads to 160 this year, compared to 124 on July 23, 1995.

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Spirit Lake Beacon, Thursday, August 1, 1996

COUPLE KILLED IN ACCIDENT.
A memorial service was held July 27, 1996 at the First Christian Church in Spencer for a Spirit Lake couple who died Tuesday, July 23 after a car accident near Bennington, Neb.

Frances Watts, 73, was pronounced dead at the scene and Ronald Watts, 65, was pronounced dead several hours later at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha after the car was hit broadside by a garbage truck.

According to Captain Ted Noveski of the Douglas County Police Department, Ronald and Frances Watts of Spirit Lake were traveling north on Nebraska Hwy 31, about three miles west of Bennington, when they stopped at a stop sign at the intersection of Hwys. 31 and 36.

The Watts then proceeded to cross the intersection where their 1994 Lincoln Towncar was hit on the passenger side by a garbage truck traveling east.

“Witnesses tell us Mr. Watts stopped then pulled out right in front of the truck,” Noveski said.

After the Watts’ car was struck, it slid across the intersection to hit a south-bound car stopped at the intersection.

No one was hurt in the 1989 BMW hit by the Watts. The garbage truck driver suffered only minor injuries.

According to Noveski, no charges were filed in the accident and the investigating officer did not find any engineering faults with the intersection.

“(Accidents) have happened here before, but there is not a continual string of accidents,” Noveski said.
“It’s an unfortunate thing, but we’ve got witnesses that say he pulled out in front of the truck.”
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[Transcriber Research Notes: Ronald Lester Watts, born June 1931; died 23 July 1996.
The former Mrs. Donald Fairchild, nee’ Bushey died 23 July 1996 as Mrs. Ronald Lester Watts, born 14 Dec 1923; died in the same accident with her 3rd husband, Ronald L. Watts, on 23 Jul 1996. Mrs. Watts was born Frances M. Bushey; 1st Marriage was to Loran William Behrens; 2nd Marriage was to Donald LeRoy Fairchild; and her 3rd marriage was to Ronald L. Watts.]