John Peter Witt (1896-1930)

WITT

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:13

From Nevada Evening Journal October 27, 1930 (page 1)

CORONER'S INQUEST OVER FATAL CRASH

BEING HELD AT JEWELL TODAY -- VICTIM DIED IN STORY CITY

Special to the Journal.
Story City, Oct. 27--An inquest is being held at Jewell today to inquire into the fatal crash Friday evening near Randall, in which John Witt, 37, World war veteran of Jewell, lost his life.

Death resulted from injuries sustained when a car driven by Witt collided with one driven by Lars Tjernagle of Randall, at the Randall corner five miles northwest of here on No. 15.

The men serving on the coroner's jury are C. J. Sickinger, O. I. Cleveland and O. L. Johnson, all of Jewell. Coroner Slater, after having the jury selected had them taken to view the scene of crash. Today the evidence is being submitted to the jury.

Witt had left Jewell early in the on No. 15 when the accident happened. As he arrived at the Randall corner, Tjernagle who was driving east from Randall, came onto the highway and th cars crashed.

The Witt car swerved to one side hit the concrete culvert wall at the corner and plunged over into the ditch. The car overturned and Witt was caught beneath the wreckage.

With Tjernagle were Mr. and Mrs. Henry Peterson and G. G. Wallen, all of Randall. They were on their way to a prayer meeting service to be held at the Stensland farm four miles west of Randall when the accident happened. Outside of minor bruises, none of the person in the Tjernagle auto was hurt.

Witt was unconscious when taken from beneath his auto and the injured man died of internal injuries a short time after being taken to the Story City hospital. The body was later taken to Jewell.

The Witt automobile was ruined and the Tjernagle car badly damaged.

Witt was not married. His father who lives in Boone, has been visiting at the home of a daughter in Joliet, Ill., and he has been informed of the accident. Witt also had a brother living at Onawa and another at Omaha. He was a member of the Jewell American Legion post. Witt had lived in Jewell for some time and of late had been engaged in tilling work.