1960 — Sep 12, Station wagon of high school students hits tractor-trailer near Ripley WV–6

–6 UPI. “Six Teen-Agers Are Killed Near Ripley Camp.” Weirton Daily Times, WV. 9-13-1960, p. 1.

Narrative Information

Sep 13, UPI: “Ripley, W. Va. (UPI) – Six teen-agers en route to a 4-H Club meeting were killed near here Monday night [12th] when their station wagon crashed at high speed into the side of a tractor-trailer one-half mile from their destination. The victims, all students at Gilmore High School, were James Scyoc, 17, the driver of the station wagon, Phyllis Miller, 13, Judy Morris, 13, Linda Smith, 13, Sharon Utt, about 15, and Linda Thompson, about 15.

“Sheriff W. C. Chancey of Jackson County said the accident occurred on a curve of U.S. Route 21 when the Scyoc youth apparently lost control of the vehicle and it spun off the road. As Scyoc attempted to regain control the station wagon bounced into the side of a Keystone Transfer tuck operated by James H. Smathers, 41, of St. Albans, W. Va.

“Smathers suffered only a bruised knee. He told Coroner Dr. R. Kessel the force of the impact sent the station wagon rolling over an embankment. It was demolished. Ambulance driver El. J. Parsons called the crash ‘the worst I’ve ever seen.’….”

Source

United Press International. “Six Teen-Agers Are Killed Near Ripley Camp.” Weirton Daily Times, WV. 9-13-1960, p. 1. Accessed 11-16-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/weirton-daily-times-sep-13-1960-p-1/