Wells, Jay C. 1937-1956

WELLS

Posted By: Mary Lou Verburg (email)
Date: 1/7/2014 at 10:10:35

Jay C. Wells, 18-year-old son of Ronus Wells of Doon, an employee of the Co-op creamery at Rock Rapids, died in an automobile accident on the gravel road between Rock Valley and Alvord about 1:15 a.m. Sunday.

Wells was alone in the car and either lost control of the vehicle or went to sleep at the wheel, investigating officials believe.

The car traveled 300 feet along the edge of the ditch before hitting an elevated farm driveway. The impact almost telescoped the vehicle and caused it to burst into flames.

Wells charred body was found in the driver's seat, his hands still grasping the steering wheel. It is not definitely known whether the fire or injuries incurred when the vehicle crashed, causing his death.

The Rock Valley fire department was called out to extinguish the blaze.

Funeral services were held at the Congregational Church in Rock Valley at 2 p.m. Wednesday with the Rev. Nelson Price officiating and burial was made at Rock Rapids.

The youth was born at Hospers, iowa, December 21, 1937 and was a 1955 graduate of Doon high school.

Survivors include besides his parents, two sisters, Mrs. Owen Warneke of Bismark, N.D., and Mrs. Jack Sarff of Hobbs, N.M. and a brother, James, stationed with the air force in California.

Source Sioux Center News October 11, 1956
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One of the worst automobile accidents in years happened here when a blazing automobile became the funeral pyre early Sunday morning for Jay Wells, 18-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Ronus Wells of Doon, after the vehicle, had left the road on the north outskirts of Rock Valley sometime prior to 1:00 a. m. that morning. Firemen were summoned by Case Wagner, night marshal of Rock Valley, after he had made an inspection of what looked like and what he had thought to be a fire in the city dump. The wrecked automobile was only yards, away from the dump. After he was close to the blaze Wagner saw that it was an automobile burning. At the time of the discovery the auto was blazing so much that it was not possible to see if anyone was inside nor was it possible to get anyone out if the discovery had been made. Discovery of the body was not made until the firemen had put out the blaze enough that persons could look through the smoke and see the body of Wells trapped inside. It was not determined whether Wells was trapped or whether he was unconscious when the blaze started. He was sitting upright and in a position which might indicate that he was conscious but injured so much that he could not make his escape by the right hand door. The left door or the door on the driver's side was lodged up against a large post which made escape from that side impossible. The car left the road about 300 feet from where it was found on the shoulder that was at about a 70 degree angle, hit a raised driveway leading to a field on the west side of the road, flew through the air for about 25 or 30 feet and came to rest on the other side of the drive. The front of the vehicle was completely demolished but what caused the fire was not immediately determined. Identification of Wells was almost immediate since many of his friends came to the scene of the accident minutes after the firemen arrived. Many young persons had seen the Doon boy in Alvord only a short time before and along with a license plate check by Wagner, identification was almost certain Sunday morning although the body was burned beyond recognition. Heat of the inferno was such that glass on the interior of the automobile was melted into lumps. When Wagner arrived on the scene the rear glass had already popped from the heat and many of the side window glasses were broken out. The interior of the car was burned down to the metal.

Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon in the Congregational church of Doon with the Rev. Nelson A. Price, as minster. Sioux county sheriff Harry Dykstra and Highway Patrolman Haze investigated the crash.

Vander Ploeg funeral home of Rock Valley had its ambulance at the scene. The youth was born at Hospers December 21, 1937, and was graduated from Doon high school .

Survivors include Mr. and Mrs. Ronus Wells; two sisters, Mrs. Owen Warneke of Bismark, N. D., and Mrs. Jack Sarff of Hobbs, N. M., and a brother James, stationed with the Air Force in California.

Source: Rock Valley Bee 10-11-1956
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