EDWARDS, Duane Robert - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

The grandson of Mrs. Mary Edwards of Covington was killed in a traffic accident Saturday, July 3, in Warren County. Nineteen-year-old Duane Robert Edwards of RR 2, Williamsport was pronounced dead at the scene.

Three days later, another grandmother, Mrs. Mary H. Weddle of RR 2, Williamsport, died of a heart attack at her home.

Investigators said Edwards was being chased by an Indiana State Police officer after he had tried to stop him for speeding. About five minutes later, after the chase reached the 100-mile per hour point, Edwards’ car went out of control, hit a telephone pole and flipped over into Possum Creek. The accident happened around 11:20 p.m. at Warren County Road 89 and State Road 63.

  Warren County Coroner Phil Fisher said the teenager was apparently knocked unconscious and then drowned. A passenger in the car, Robert Bail, 21, Williamsport, was able to escape from the car after it went into the creek. He was treated at Williamsport Community Hospital and released.

Efforts by the state Trooper to pull Edwards from the car were unsuccessful. The day after the funeral, July 6, the teenager’s grandmother died at 7:30 a.m. at her rural home. The coroner attributed death to a heart attack. The accident victim was born October 21, 1962, in Danville, Illinois, the son of Robert Gene and Wreatha Long Edwards. He was a 1981 graduate of Seeger Memorial High School and for the past year had worked at Dyna-Fab factory in West Lebanon.

Surviving in addition to his parents, are three brothers, David Gene of West Lebanon and Darrell and Dennis at home; his paternal grandparent, Everett Weddle of RR 2, Williamsport, who was the husband of Mary Weddle, and Mrs. Edwards of Covington; and his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. George Long of Breman.

Services were conducted July 6 at Fisher Funeral Home in West Lebanon with Rev. Robert Shook officiating. Burial was in West Lebanon Cemetery – s