Pickup Driver Charged In Wreck Deaths of Two
Two charges of negligent homicide have been filed in county court against the driver of a pickup truck that figured in the death of two Negro men last Friday afternoon near Columbus.
Killed instantly when the truck blew a tire and swerved into their lane were Eddie Smith, 64, of Weimar, and Joe Collins, 36, of Columbus, only occupants of Smith's 1959 Chevrolet.
The pickup driver, Wm. R. Clayton, 34, of Angleton, suffered head and chest injuries and a broken right leg. He is recovering satisfactorily in Columbus Hospital.
Highway Patrolman Jack Brock filed charges against Clayton after learning that Clayton had had the pickup's left front tire repaired in Columbus and had ordered a boot put in it in spite of the repairman's warning that the tire would be unsafe.
Clayton is a foreman for Steve Construction Co., working on one of the Cummins Creek dams in this vicinity.
The almost headon crash occurred at 1:30 p.m. on Highway 71 about 5 miles south of Columbus. Smith and Collins were returning to Columbus from Altair and had been seen leaving Altair about 20 minutes earlier. Clayton's 1959 Dodge pickup was headed south, toward Altair.
The impact sent the two vehicles to opposite sides of the road, the car in the west lane and facing south and the pickup in the east ditch.
The bodies of Smith and Collins were still in the car. It was necessary to use pry bars to get Clayton out of the pickup.
Smith was owner of a tavern and several other businesses here. He was buried here Sunday afternoon, the Rev. P. D. Saddler conducting services at St. James A. M. E. Church.
Collins was owner of a Columbus tavern, Riverside Terrace.
They were the first 1960 fatalities on Colorado County highways, and only the second and third since July 1959. There was another in November 1959.
Two charges of negligent homicide have been filed in county court against the driver of a pickup truck that figured in the death of two Negro men last Friday afternoon near Columbus.
Killed instantly when the truck blew a tire and swerved into their lane were Eddie Smith, 64, of Weimar, and Joe Collins, 36, of Columbus, only occupants of Smith's 1959 Chevrolet.
The pickup driver, Wm. R. Clayton, 34, of Angleton, suffered head and chest injuries and a broken right leg. He is recovering satisfactorily in Columbus Hospital.
Highway Patrolman Jack Brock filed charges against Clayton after learning that Clayton had had the pickup's left front tire repaired in Columbus and had ordered a boot put in it in spite of the repairman's warning that the tire would be unsafe.
Clayton is a foreman for Steve Construction Co., working on one of the Cummins Creek dams in this vicinity.
The almost headon crash occurred at 1:30 p.m. on Highway 71 about 5 miles south of Columbus. Smith and Collins were returning to Columbus from Altair and had been seen leaving Altair about 20 minutes earlier. Clayton's 1959 Dodge pickup was headed south, toward Altair.
The impact sent the two vehicles to opposite sides of the road, the car in the west lane and facing south and the pickup in the east ditch.
The bodies of Smith and Collins were still in the car. It was necessary to use pry bars to get Clayton out of the pickup.
Smith was owner of a tavern and several other businesses here. He was buried here Sunday afternoon, the Rev. P. D. Saddler conducting services at St. James A. M. E. Church.
Collins was owner of a Columbus tavern, Riverside Terrace.
They were the first 1960 fatalities on Colorado County highways, and only the second and third since July 1959. There was another in November 1959.
Pickup Driver Charged In Wreck Deaths of Two
Two charges of negligent homicide have been filed in county court against the driver of a pickup truck that figured in the death of two Negro men last Friday afternoon near Columbus.
Killed instantly when the truck blew a tire and swerved into their lane were Eddie Smith, 64, of Weimar, and Joe Collins, 36, of Columbus, only occupants of Smith's 1959 Chevrolet.
The pickup driver, Wm. R. Clayton, 34, of Angleton, suffered head and chest injuries and a broken right leg. He is recovering satisfactorily in Columbus Hospital.
Highway Patrolman Jack Brock filed charges against Clayton after learning that Clayton had had the pickup's left front tire repaired in Columbus and had ordered a boot put in it in spite of the repairman's warning that the tire would be unsafe.
Clayton is a foreman for Steve Construction Co., working on one of the Cummins Creek dams in this vicinity.
The almost headon crash occurred at 1:30 p.m. on Highway 71 about 5 miles south of Columbus. Smith and Collins were returning to Columbus from Altair and had been seen leaving Altair about 20 minutes earlier. Clayton's 1959 Dodge pickup was headed south, toward Altair.
The impact sent the two vehicles to opposite sides of the road, the car in the west lane and facing south and the pickup in the east ditch.
The bodies of Smith and Collins were still in the car. It was necessary to use pry bars to get Clayton out of the pickup.
Smith was owner of a tavern and several other businesses here. He was buried here Sunday afternoon, the Rev. P. D. Saddler conducting services at St. James A. M. E. Church.
Collins was owner of a Columbus tavern, Riverside Terrace.
They were the first 1960 fatalities on Colorado County highways, and only the second and third since July 1959. There was another in November 1959.
Two charges of negligent homicide have been filed in county court against the driver of a pickup truck that figured in the death of two Negro men last Friday afternoon near Columbus.
Killed instantly when the truck blew a tire and swerved into their lane were Eddie Smith, 64, of Weimar, and Joe Collins, 36, of Columbus, only occupants of Smith's 1959 Chevrolet.
The pickup driver, Wm. R. Clayton, 34, of Angleton, suffered head and chest injuries and a broken right leg. He is recovering satisfactorily in Columbus Hospital.
Highway Patrolman Jack Brock filed charges against Clayton after learning that Clayton had had the pickup's left front tire repaired in Columbus and had ordered a boot put in it in spite of the repairman's warning that the tire would be unsafe.
Clayton is a foreman for Steve Construction Co., working on one of the Cummins Creek dams in this vicinity.
The almost headon crash occurred at 1:30 p.m. on Highway 71 about 5 miles south of Columbus. Smith and Collins were returning to Columbus from Altair and had been seen leaving Altair about 20 minutes earlier. Clayton's 1959 Dodge pickup was headed south, toward Altair.
The impact sent the two vehicles to opposite sides of the road, the car in the west lane and facing south and the pickup in the east ditch.
The bodies of Smith and Collins were still in the car. It was necessary to use pry bars to get Clayton out of the pickup.
Smith was owner of a tavern and several other businesses here. He was buried here Sunday afternoon, the Rev. P. D. Saddler conducting services at St. James A. M. E. Church.
Collins was owner of a Columbus tavern, Riverside Terrace.
They were the first 1960 fatalities on Colorado County highways, and only the second and third since July 1959. There was another in November 1959.
Gravesite Details
Son of Robert and Eva (Upson) Collins, Sr. - died in an automobile accident
Family Members
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