Clark - Fred
Fred L. CLARK
Source: Crawfordsville Journal -Review 11 Feb 1956
Fred L. CLARK, 73, was killed instantly Saturday shortly before 9 a.m. in a car-truck accident on Ind 47 seven miles SW of Crawfordsville. Packed snow on the road was a contributing factor. Mr. Clark, who lived a half-mile SE of Crawfordsville ont he Ladoga Rd was the first traffic fatality in the county this year. Mr. Clark had been prominent as a farmer and businessman here for many years. He was riding alone. His car, going SW apparently got off the pavement on the right side and then swung back diagonally across the road when he pulled back on the pavement. Tracks showed that his car skidded sideways on the snow into the path of a truck driven by Lloyd Howard, 40, Hillsboro. THe truck driver, employed by Mid-States Steel & Wire Co. was en route to the local plant with a load of crushed stone he had obtained at Russellville. He drove to the side of the road in an attempt to avoid the automobile sliding toward him but his efforts were futile. "I saw him sliding toward me," Howard said, "But I couldn't avoid being hit. I drove clear off the edge of the road but his car just kept coming right at me." After the crash, Clark's car was pushed back down the road about 75 feet. The car, a Cadillac, was completely demolished with a huge U-Shaped hole smashed in the right side. The accident was investigated by County Coroner Dr. Fred Blix, the sherriff's office and state police. Born Dec 8, 1882 in Montgomery County, Mr. Clark was the son of Benjamin F. and Jane Pennington Clark. He was married in Crawfordsville Oct 10, 1908 to Ina L. Miller, who survives. After a year's residence in Oklahoma, Mr. and Mrs. Clark returned to Montgomery County where Mr. Clark had engaged in general farming most of his life. He was a member of the Ladoga Christian Church and Montgomery County Farm Bureau. Surviving besides the widow are 3 brothers, Charles Clark of Crawfordsville; Claude C. Clark of Indianapolis and William A. Clark of Greencastle; one nephew and two nieces. He was preceded in death by a brother, Clarence W. Clark, who died in 1924. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Bright Funeral Home, followed by burial at Ladoga. Rev. Ray Britton of Roachdale will be officiating minister. Friends may call at the funeral home. - kbz
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Note: The Clark Scholarships for students of Montgomery County is in his name