Steven Arthur PHILBROOK

PHILBROOK, CRANE, HUNTLEY, BERLEEN, BLOOMBERG, DOOLITTLE, HEMMINGER, CRANE

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 9/18/2011 at 17:19:59

February 8, 1948 --- October 7, 1966

18-Year Old Trapped in Wreckage

Steve Philbrook, 18-year old Webster City youth, was fatally burned late last evening when trapped inside the wreckage of an auto following a one-car crash about two and one-half miles north of Webster City on the White Fox road. Sheriff E. R. Lear reported this morning. The sheriff said the car in which Philbrook was riding, apparently in the rear seat, was driven by Robert Huntley, 18, of Renwick. Huntley and two other youths, Clarence Berleen, 18, and Brian Bloomberg, 18, both of Webster City, were injured and brought to Hamilton County hospital for treatment of injuries. Sheriff Lear said that the driver apparently lost control of the car on the blacktop road and it went into the ditch where it hit an approach to a field. The machine then flew through the air and landed on its top, bursting into flames.

The impact apparently tossed the other three young men out but trapped the Philbrook youth inside. Both the Webster City fire department and the Woolstock fire department were called to help extinguish the flaming wreckage. The county rescue truck brought the three injured youths back into Webster City for hospitalization. Sheriff Lear said there was no other car involved in the accident. The fatality was the sixth this year in Hamilton county.

Miss Becky Doolittle and her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Leon Doolittle, riding in different cars, were among the first at the scene of the tragedy which occurred near the Harold Hemminger farm. They notified authorities and the Doolittles and Hemminger attempted to free the trapped youth but were unable to because of the flames. One of the injured youths said the young men were heading back to Webster City and that he believed a tire had blown out, causing the car to swerve into the ditch.

Hospital authorities reported that Huntley, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Huntley of R1, Goldfield, was in serious condition. His injuries consisted of multiple lacerations about the right eye and temple; his left hand and right wrist, and his back was injured. Berleen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Berleen, was reported suffering from lacerations and abrasions about the head and face and an injury to his nose. His condition was reported as satisfactory. Bloomberg, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Bloomberg, was reported suffering from multiple bruises and abrasions about the legs and back and an injured neck. His condition was satisfactory.

FUNERAL RITES TO BE MONDAY

Funeral services for Steve Philbrook will be at 3:30 p.m. Monday [October 10, 1966] at the Foster Funeral home with the Rev. Paul Heath of Sioux City officiating. Burial will be in Graceland cemetery.

Steven Arthur Philbrook, son of Arthur C. and Barbara Philbrook, was born Feb. 8, 1948, at Webster City. He had attended Webster City schools and was graduated of 1966. During the last two years in school, he was employed as a carry-out boy at the Fareway store. During the past summer, he had been employed at the Maudlin Construction Co. He was attending Webster City Junior college this fall and was a member of the Circle K Club.

Surviving are his parents, one brother and two sisters, Mark, Becky and Ginger, all at home and the grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. R. S. Crane of Dows and Mr. and Mrs. Bert Philbrook of Dayton, Iowa. He was a member of the Methodist Church and for several years was a member of the Bellringers group.

Daily Freeman Journal - Webster City, IA
October 8, 1966