Crash Near Brooklyn

EDGERTON, MCDONALD, INMAN

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 8/27/2014 at 17:44:55

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register
Monday, Sept. 5, 1966

CRASH NEAR BROOKLYN SUNDAY

3 Local Residents Die
In Mishap, 2 Injured

Three Grinnellians died in a one-car crash on highway 6 near Brooklyn Sunday afternoon as Iowa recorded its bloodiest Labor Day weekend on the highways.

Killed instantly in Sunday's crash was the Rev. Earl Edgerton, 50, pastor of the Church of the Nazarene here; his wife, Dollie, 52; and Elmer McDonald, 55.

Also injured were the Edgerton's daughter, Eunice, 17, who is now hospitalized in Iowa City, and Mrs. Bernice Inman, 41, a Grinnell registered nurse, who is in a local hospital.

According to an eyewitness, the Edgerton car was traveling east on highway 6 about 2:30 p.m. one-half mile west of the Flomar Restaurant when a tire blew out. The car veered off onto the shoulder and sheared off a mailbox. The mailbox then crashed into the windshield, probably blinding the driver, and the auto continued down the shoulder until it struck the concrete bridge bannister.

Both Rev. and Mrs. Edgerton were killed instantly. McDonald was pinned inside the auto and it took more than 30 minutes to free him. It finally was necessary to bring in a cutting torch to cut him loose. McDonald died at a Grinnell hospital about 45 minutes later.

The two men were riding in the front seat and the three women in the rear.

It was believed they were all enroute to the dedication ceremonies at Kent Chapel near Holiday Lake when the fatal crash occurred.

Crash was investigated by Sheriff Wiley Taylor, Deputy Max Allen, and Highway Patrolmen Gerald Kahler, Paul Gearhart, Robert Kinseth and Tom Law.