GRITTEN, Alva
Source: Kingman Star Friday, April 8, 1949
Columbia, Tenn., April 4—An Indiana man drowned early today when an old girder bridge collapsed beneath his trailer truck on a rural highway 15 miles form here.
The body of Alva H. Gritten, 57, of Kingman, Ind., was removed from the submerged truck in midmorning. His son, Bernard Leon Gritten, 24, of RFD 1, Perrysville, driver of the truck, escaped injury.
The big truck was empty. Young Gritten said they were en route to a saw mill to pick up a load of lumber.
The elder man was trapped in the truck as it went through the bridge over the Duck River and plunged into the water 50 feet below.
An entire 60 foot span of the bridge gave way and collapsed into the river.
Workers with torches were cutting through the girders of the ancient bridge this morning in an effort to reach the truck and the body. -s
Source: Kingman Star Friday, April 8, 1949
Kingman, April 4—Alva H. Gritten, 47, RFD 2, Kingman, who was drowned early Monday morning near Columbia, Tenn., when a rural highway bridge collapsed beneath a trailer truck occupied by Gritten and a son, Bernard Gritten, RFD 1, Perrysville, left here Sunday for Columbia, Tenn.
Mr. Gritten, a resident of this community most of his life, came here 30 years ago from Potomac, Ill., his birthplace. For the past several years he had operated a junk business near Cates. Mr. Gritten and his son were preparing to pick up a load of lumber at a saw mill when the accident occurred.
Surviving besides the son, who escaped injury in the crash, are the widow and another son, Fred Gritten, Danville, Ill. - s
Source: Lafayette Journal and Courier Tues April 5, 1949 p 1
Columbia, Tenn April 5 - The body of Alva H. Gritten, 47, was scheduled to be returned to Kingman, Ind today for funeral. Gritten, a trucker and junk dealer, was drowned yesterday when a bridge capsized. - kbz
Source: Indianapolis News Mon 4 April 1949 p 13
Columbia, Tenn April 4 - An Indiana trucker was missing and believed drowned and his son escaped uninjured when a rural highway bridge collapsed beneath their trailer truck 15 miles from here early today. The missing man was identified here as Alva H. Gritten, 47, Kingman Ind. His son, Bernard Leon Gritten, 24, Covington Ind was driving the truck. The big truck was empty. Young Gritten said they were en route to a saw mill to pick up a load of lumber. The elder man was trapped in the truck as it went through the bridge over Duck River and plunged into the water 50' below. An entire 60-foot span of the bridge collapsed. - kbz