Biographies and Obituaries
In loving memory
Charles Michael Lee
Washington Times-Herald
Wednesday, 28 FEB 1968, p1
Local Youth Killed in Highway 54 Crash
Mike Lee, 20, 2 Maple Court, son of Edker Lee, Washington funeral director, was fatally injured in a one-car accident at 1:45 a.m. today near the intersection of Highway 54 and 45 at Little Cincinnati in Greene County.
Lee's body was found under the steering wheel of a Volkswagen which ran off the highway and into a farm pond.
David Grubb, 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. Delmar Grubb, 1436 Cabel Road, Washington, injured slightly in the accident was treated at Freeman Greene Hospital and released. Grubb was dazed by the crash but walked to a nearby home to summon help, authorities said.
Details of the accident are still being investigated, officers said this afternoon.
The car, enroute northeast on Highway 54, crossed the Highway 45 intersection, ran off the highway for about 60 feet and landed in the pond. Most of the car was submerged in the water near the center of the pond.
Officers said Grubb got out of the car and went to the home of Wilbur Hutchens, who lives nearby, to summon help.
State police and the Greene County Rescue Unit were called and arrived at the scene a short time later. The small car was pulled from the pond by a wrecker using grappling hooks.
It was first reported that Dirk Chickedantz of Washington was in the auto and this information was inadvertently given out by authorities who had been informed there was another individual in the car. However, it was determined that Chickedantz had left the youths in Washington earlier in the evening.
Gene Spinx and Chet Weaver of the Greene Rescue Unit donned Scuba diving gear and searced the pond for over an hour before it was discovered only two youths were in the car at the time of the accident.
Personnell from the U.S. Navy unit at NAD Crane joined in the search, also.
Authorities said Lee's body was in the front seat of the car and he had received a severe throat laceration.
Charles Michael Lee was born December 4, 1947 in Washington, the son of Edker L. and Alice (Tkac) Lee.
He was a member of St. Simon's Catholic church and was graduated from Washington Catholic high school in 1966. An athlete of ability, he was a Cardinal varsity basketball player, earning the acclaim of teammates and fans for his determination and effort. In 1966, he was awarded the K. of C. Most Valuable Player trophy. Following graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy.
He was a Radarman on the USS Bainbridge and was home on leave.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by one sister, Charlotte M. Lee, a student at Indiana State University; and grandparents, Mrs. Charles M. Lee, Washington, and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Tkac, Houston, Texas.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete.
Contributed by: Sandra Hedrick Allen