Mt. Vernon Register News - March 08, 1959
Submitted By: Jim and Nancy E. Davis

ACCIDENTS NEAR MT. VERNON AND NASON

Robert Lee Smith, 22 of Mt. Vernon Killed on Nason Blacktop Road, Ina Woman Badly Hurt in Route 37 Crash

Two accidents took this tragic toll in Jefferson County during this weekend. One young Mt. Vernon man dead. Two young men seriously hurt, an elderly Ina woman near death. Three other people less seriously hurt.

Robert Lee Smith, 22, of 1621 Forrest Avenue was killed at 12:25 a.m. Sunday and two passengers in his car were hurt in an accident on the Nason blacktop road a half mile south of State route 148.

In fair condition at Jefferson Memorial Hospital are Robert L. Stewart, 22, of Route 7, and Jerry W. Rightnowar 20, of 411 south Sixth street.

Sherriff Bob Ruddick said the Smith car went out of control on a curve. It careened down a ditch until it crashed into a culvert, then rolled over and over down a fence row. All three men were thrown out of the car. It was first reported that Stewart had suffered a broken neck, however x-rays revealed there were no fracture in the neck but that he had suffered a fracture of the shoulder. He was getting along well at the hospital today.

Rightnowar who sustained a concussion and multiple cuts and bruises was unconcious for hours. His physician said that he was semi-concious this morning and he is in fair condition.

Smith a young veteran of the U.S. Navy was a pumper for the Strickland oil Company.

His funeral will be held Wednesday at the General Baptist Church, the Rev. Tracy Dees and Rev. John Hurt will officiate and burial will follow in Wolf Creek Cemetery near Eldorado.

Military services will be conducted by the local American Legion Post. At 4:00 p.m. today the body will be removed from the Pulley Funeral Home to the family home where friends may call. At noon Wednesday the body will be taken to the church to lie in state until the funeral hour.

The young man was born June 01, 1936 at Eldorado, IL the son of Arthur Smith and Mildred Elizabeth (Reeder) Smith. He served four years in the U.S. Navy, receiving his discharge August 19, 1958. Surviving besides his parents are two brothers, James E. of Mt. Vernon and Ronald E. of Camp Gordon, Georgia.