Hansen, John Albert (Infant) 1957-1957

HANSEN, KINNEY

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke--Volunteer
Date: 3/13/2017 at 22:33:54

Source: Alton Democrat (11-28-1957)

Born: September 30, 1957
Died: November 25, 1957

A tragic collision on the Highway 33 intersection at Carnes early Monday evening, November 25th, resulted in the death of the eight weeks-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Hansen of Alton. The accident happened at approximately 5:30 P.M. and the little fellow passed on from a skull fracture shortly after arriving at the Grossmann Hospital, Orange City.

Mr. and Mrs. Hansen suffered cuts and bruises and although dismissed the same evening from the hospital Mrs. Hansen is confined to bed with a severe knee injury, facial cuts and a deep cut on her hand.

Still hospitalized is Ralph G. Mullen, 65, of Omaha, driver of the other car, who has four broken ribs, two chips on the spinal column, bruises and contusions, according to hospital authorities. Mrs. Mullen is now with her husband, who is a representative of the Pederson Company, electric construction contractors of Omaha.

Mr. Hansen was driving northeast on Highway 33, returning from Le Mars in the family’s 1953 Ford when the crash took place.

Mr. Mullin, driving a 1955 Buick, approaching the highway on the black-top county road from Orange City, apparently lost control of his car on reaching the highway. The condition of the vehicle indicates that he had attempted to turn on the highway and crashed nearly head on into the Hansen car. The front ends of both cars are telescoped and the right side of the Buick is caved in. Both cars are at Even’s garage.

Rites for little John Albert Hansen, born September 30, 1957, will be held at St. Mary’s Church in Alton at 9:30 Friday morning. Reverend Karl Hansen of Maryhill, a cousin of Albert Hansen will officiate.

The body will be at Fisch Funeral Home, Remsen, Wednesday and Thursday evenings and at St. Mary’s Chapel Friday morning prior to the service.

Besides the parents, John Albert has a brother and two sisters, James John 11, Mary Ann, 10, and Rosemary 3, none of whom were passengers at the time of the accident. Also surviving are the grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John P. Hansen and Mrs. James Kinney, all of Alton. The family have the deep sympathy of the community in their sorrow and shock.

At the time of the crash, a trucker had just reached the intersection from the south, or Oyens road and saw Mr. Hansen get up from the ground where he apparently been thrown from the car. Mrs. Hansen and John Albert remained in the car. They were apparently thrown forward against the windshield and panel of the car. The body of the Hansen car is very little damaged.

This is the seventh fatal accident on the Sioux County roads this year, according to Sheriff Harry Dykstra and Deputy Ted Hoogland, who with Patrolman L. Haze investigated the accident.

The Omaha driver was said to be unfamiliar with the black top county road he was traveling. This is not a “dead-end” road but continues south to Oyens, crossing the highway diagonally. The road could be better marked than it is. With prevailing high speeds, the warning of a stop sign ahead is much too close to the highway, and the stop sign itself is far to the right at the end of the approach to the highway. The county should remedy this, and thus better protect drivers on both roads.