Gordon Funck (-1936)

FUNCK

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 3/14/2009 at 14:05:11

AMES DAILY TRIBUNE AND TIMES, Ames, Story County, Iowa, Monday, March 30, 1936.

GORDON FUNCK, I. S. STUDENT, KILLED SUNDAY

Coroner's Jury Clears Truck Driver Of Blame

After discussing the evidence for an hour, the coroner's jury reported at 2 p. m., that the accident in which Gordon Funck was killed was an "unavoidable accident." This decision was reached on the grounds that Funck was at fault for walking on the highway at night.

A coroner's inquest was under way in the Ames municipal court room Monday morning, in which Guy Mills, Story county coroner, presided in the inquest into the cause of the accident which occurred at 10:45 p. m., Sunday night one-half mile south of Huxley.

Gordon Funck. 19, a freshman engineering student at Iowa State college, was killed when he was struck by a truck driven by Alfred Crone, Forest City. Funck, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Guy Funck of Osceola, lived at 114 South Hyland avenue.

Going North

According to the report made by Crone to the police, Crone was going north on Hghways 65 and 69 when he struck Funck, who was pushing a motorcycle on the highway. Crone reported at the inquest that he did not see Funck until he was almost upon him. He swung the truck toward the center of the road in an effort to miss him but the corner of the truck box struck Funck in the right side.

Crone stopped and rushed back to pick up Funck. A passing motorist, whose name was not learned, stopped and took Funck to a physician in Huxley, but Funck died while enroute. The body was then taken to the college hospital and later to the Adams funeral home. Monday the body was taken to
Osceola.

Ribs Crushed

Coroner Mills reported that Funck's ribs on the right side were crushed inward, puncturing the lung and several large arteries. Death was reported due to excess
bleeding.

When placed on the stand Monday morning, Crone, visibly moved by the accident, stated that he was driving north, with his lights dim. He stated that he had his lights dim because he had recently met a southbound car. When questioned by County Attorney Frank Lounsberry regarding license plates, Crone stated taht he had Missouri license plates, altho he lived in Iowa. He used Missouri license plates, he stated, "because they are cheaper." He has an Iowa driver's license.

Pushing Cycle

Funck was pushing his motorcycle, which apparently was out of gasoline, down the center of the right side of the highway. Irvin Roberson, Ames auto mechanic, was called to the stand to testify regarding the condition of the brakes on the Crone truck. Roberson, who reported that he tested the brakes Monday morning, stated that "at 30 miles an hour, the brakes did not work efficiently." He stated that the car traveled about 200 feet before coming to a stop after the brakes had been applied.

"No Brakes"

E. W. Sarver, South Kellogg, stated that he was with Roberson at the time the test was made, and he verified Roberson's report regarding the brakes on the truck, stating that there were "practically no brakes" on the truck.

Verne Lynch, sheriff, stated that he arrived at the scene of the accident about 1 a. m., Monday, and found the motorcycle in the ditch, with the tail light still burning. Sheriff Lynch reported that he found a patch of blood on the pavement, near the center of the east side of the highway.

Jurors in the case were W. H. Best, Carl Briley and H. L. Yates.