James L. "Jim" Hagen (1955-1969)

HAGEN, KUHN, JACOBSON, DORSEY

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 11/20/2013 at 22:01:39

From Nevada Journal May 1969

A 13-year-old Nevada eighth grader became Story County's fourth traffic victim of 1969 Sunday afternoon when he drove a go-cart in front of a car at a McCallsburg intersection.

The victim was James L. Hagen, 845 R Avenue, Nevada. He was the son of Mrs. Shirley Kuhn and attended Nevada Junior High. His father, Charles Hagen, resides in California.

The accident took place at 4:30 Sunday afternoon at the west entrance to McCallsburg from the Roland-Zearing blacktop.

Hagen and his brother were in McCallsburg Sunday visiting the Bervin Risdals. Most of the Risdal family left for a time and Jim and his brother were in the garage working on a go-cart belonging to Eddie Risdal, 20.

Jim apparently got the cart started and drove it south from the Risdal home, across the county blacktop, and into the McCallsburg business district.

The accident occurred when he attempted to head north and cross the blacktop again to get to the Risdal home, a block north.

The go-cart ran directly in front of a westbound '66 Pontiac, driven by Walter H. Anderson, 47, Ackley, Ia. The accident happened directly in front of the Cecil Henderson home. Henderson, working on a car on his lawn, heard the scream of brakes and was the first one at the scene.

The go-cart and the boy's body were lodged under vehicle and were dragged several feet before the car could stop, according to investigating officer Patrolman William Severin, Nevada.

The youngster became the fourth traffic victim in 1969 in Story county and the third in this month.

No charges were lodged against Anderson or his passengers, Mrs. Anderson and daughter, Penny. Minor damage was caused to the front of their car.

The youth was born September 7, 1955 in Ames, the son of Charles and Shirley Hagen.

He attended the Nevada School and worked after school as a carrier boy for the Evening Journal.

Survivors include his father of Lancaster, Calif., and his mother Mrs. Paul Kuhn of Nevada; two grandmothers, Mrs. Ethel Jacobson of Nevada and Mrs. Roy Dorsey of Ames; two brothers, Rick and Charles; and three sisters, LeeAnn, Jeanette and Barbara.

Funeral services will be held at the Ryan Funeral Home Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 with the Rev. Azel Smith officiating. Burial will be in the Nevada Cemetery.