STAUB, Matthew

Source: Covington Friend Wednesday, Aug. 6, 1975

A 7-year-old State Line boy was killed Friday and five relatives injured when an auto struck their family camper truck and sent him sprawling into Interstate 80 near Matteson, Ill.

Matthew W. Staub of the Warren County community was killed as the impact sheared open the camper and dumped him, his brother, Patrick, 11, and his grandparents, Wilbur and Bernadine Thomas, into the road in their bedclothes. Five family members were taken to a hospital with injuries.

The boy’s mother, Susan K. Lewis, 30, and her husband, Austin L. Lewis, 32, were in the cab of the camper at the time of the crash.

Ignatius V. Zielinski, 27, New Lenox, Ill., the driver of the auto, was charged by state troopers with drunk driving and involuntary manslaughter.

The youngster’s body was taken to a funeral home in Illinois, according to local authorities.