Deal, Larry (1960)

DEAL, HOTCHKIN, ROOF, OLSON

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 4/24/2012 at 22:19:34

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; Sept. 8, 1960

COLLISION WITH CAR

Larry Deal, 17, Dies On Way To Hospital After Wednesday Crash

A Grinnell teenager, Larry Deal, died Wednesday afternoon minutes after being involved in a motorcycle-automobile accident at the intersection of Sixth Avenue and Prince Street.

Deal, 17, the driver of the motorcycle, died while being taken to a local hospital. He was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.

The son of Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Deal of Route 1, Grinnell, Deal was Grinnell's first motor vehicle fatality in more than eight years and was Poweshiek county' sixth auto death of the year.

DRIVING WEST

Deal, a senior at Grinnell high school, was driving his motorcycle west on Sixth Avenue at the time of the accicent. It collided with a car driven by Gerald Thomas (Tommy) Hotchkin, 17, also of Grinnell.

Hotchkin is the son of Mrs. Dollie Hotchkin.

Witnesses who viewed the crash gave this account to Grinnell policemen and Iowa Highway Patrolmen who investigated the accident.

The Hotchkin car pulled onto Sixth Avenue from the west driveway at Anderson's Standard Service and headed east in the inside (north) lane of 2-lane eastbound traffic half of the 4-lane highway. The service station is located at the northwest corner of the Sixth Avenue-Prince Street intersection.

The Hotchkin car then began to make a left turn onto Prince Street.

At the same time, Deal was driving his motorcycle west on the inside (south) lane of the westbound half of the highway. The motorcycle smashed into the right front fender of Hotchkin's car.

Witnessess said Deal appeared to swerve to the right in an attempt to miss the Hotchkin car. The point of impact was in the right (north) lane of the westbound half of the highway.

HOTCHKIN IN SHOCK

Hotchkin was still in a local hospital this morning with shock. He received no physical injuries.

Law officers still had not been able to talk with him at 9 a.m. today to get his version of the accident.

Hotchkin had two passengers in his car--Keith Roof and Bennie Olson, both of Grinnell.

Olson, received cuts on his right arm and fingers. He was treated at a lcoal hospital and was released. Roof was not injured.

All three occupants of the Hotchkin car are Grinnell high school students. Hotchkin and Roof are both juniors and Olson is a sophomore.

According to the Grinnell Police department, charges may be filed against Hotchkin.

Both the motorcycle and the car, a 1951 Pontiac, were damaged beyond repair. Combined damages was estimaed at $900.