Lender, Sandra 1940-1956

LENDER

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 10/22/2014 at 13:32:53

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register
Oct. 15, 1956

SANDRA LENDER, 16, BROOKLYN, DIES;
TWO MEN INJURED IN HEAD-ON CRASH

Sandra Lender, 16-year-old Brooklyn high school junior, became Poweshiek County's third traffic fatality of 1956 Saturday night when the car in which she was a passenger collided during a blinding rain with another auto on Highway 146 about one-half mile north of Grinnell.

TWO INJURED

Injured in the crash were 20-year old Tom Ellis of Grinnell, driver of the car in which Miss Lender was riding, and William McKay, 31, of Lisbon, driver of the other vehicle.

Rain was coming down in torrents at about 9:10 p.m. Saturday when the crash occurred. Willis Allen of Grinnell told authorities that as he was proceeding south on the highway, the McKay vehicle attempted to pass and the right front end of that machine struck the left rear of Allen's car.

INTO AUTO'S PATH

Allen said that the force of the collision apparently forced the McKay auto into the path of the oncoming Ellis auto. Allen and his family escaped injury although the car was damaged.

Both Ellis and McKay were rushed to an Iowa City hospital Saturday night after initial treatment at a local hospital. Both men reportedly sustained similar injuries, severe cuts and broken bones of the face and broken limbs. Latest reports indicated that both men were in critical condition.

MEDICAL AID

The Lender girl reportedly was not killed outright but died a few minutes later in an ambulance enroute to the hospital. Medical aid arrived on the accident scene only minutes after the crash.

Victims were pinned inside the two machines and workmen required several minutes free them from the two completely demolished vehicles. Heavy rains continued to fall throughout their efforts and traffic was halted for a short time. Visibility was exceedingly poor.

AT MOVIE

Young Ellis and Miss Lender had attended a local movie that evening and had left the theater only a few minutes proceeding the fatal crash.

Funeral services for Miss Lender, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Lender of Brooklyn, will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 16th at the Grace Methodist church there.

The Rev. C.E. Shupe, minister of the church, will officiate at the services and pallbearers will be classmates and friends.

Interment will be at Deep River.