Donald Edward THORN

THORN, GRANTHAM

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:47

Donald Edward Thorn
November 14, 1916 — April 21, 1942

Donald Thorn of Eagle Grove was burned to death in a truck accident four miles west of DeWitt, Iowa, around 10 o'clock Tuesday evening. Thorn, west bound, deliberately drove his car into the ditch to avoid a head-on collision with a car coming from the east, driven by H. A. "Tex" Grantham, a member of the Iowa Tax Commission. It was either hit the Grantham car head-on, or smash into two cars directly in his path which had slowed down to turn off the highway. Grantham came over a small rise in the Primary 10 pavement and Thorn took the ditch to avoid an impending four-way crash.

Witnesses at the scene of the accident, who went to Thorn's aid, said his right foot was caught in the cab of his truck which burst into flames and made it impossible for them to extricate him. In the back of the truck was around 10 tons of steel rods which shifted forward when the truck struck a culvert and demolished the cab.

The county coroner of Clinton county, in which DeWitt is located, was to hold an inquest last night. The Kubltschek & Kastler hearse was sent to Clinton Wednesday to return the charred body here for burial.

Thorn, who was 25 years of age, was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Otis Thorn of this city. The parents and three small children survive.

The truck Thorn was driving was owned by Robert Shields of Webster City by whom Thorn was employed. However, the truck was being operated by Grigg Elkin, Jr., of this city. Thorn had driven into Chicago with stock and was enroute home with a load of steel rods.

Funeral services will be held Friday morning at 9 o'clock in Sacred Heart church.

The Eagle Grove Eagle --- Eagle Grove, Iowa
Thursday, April 23, 1942

source --- Eileen Reed