Taylor - Donald Black
Source: Crawfordsville Journal-Review 1 Feb 1965 p. 1
A pickup truck with a dying man at the wheel left Ind 55 and smashed into a large utility pole shortly before 6 p.m. Saturday, knocking out electric power over a wide area of northern Montgomery County. His death did not constitute a traffic fatality. Dead was Donald B. Taylor, 70, Rt 4, well known in this area as a race horse owner and driver. Dr. Samuel Millis, county corner, said after an examination of the body that death was due to natural causes and occurred prior to and not as a result of the accident. Taylor was dead when found at the scene, with a crushed chest and gash on the chin. The sheriff's department said the crash occurred at 5:50 p.m. because that's when power went off in Darlington, Linden and areas north of Crawfordsville. Taylor had been driving toward his home and was observed by a passing southbound driver, Max Rife, also of Rt 4, to have been weaving over the road, officers reported. When Taylor was fatally stricken, his pickup truck left the highway on a relatively straight stretch about two miles northwest of Crawfordsville and struck the Public Servie Company pole on the driver's right side of the road. The pole itself withstood the impact, but its crossarms were shattered and lines torn loose. It carried high tension lines. Power was off for about four hours after the accident before repairmen could get current restored everywhere. Officers estimate $600 to $700 damage to the utility firm's property and about $1,000 to the light truck, the right front and motor being smashed.
Donald B. Taylor was born December 30, 1894, in Hillsboro to Charles M. and Edith Black Taylor. He was married to Mabel E. Dwiggins Sept 5, 1925 in Crawfordsville. He was a member of the Hillsboro Christian Church, New Richmond Masonic Lodge, Farmers union and U.S. Trotters Association, was a former director of the Indiana Trotters & Pacers Association.
A race driver as well as trainer - and active in driving as late as last December, Taylor had owned a couple of famous horses, Taylor's Song - Indiana 2 and 3-year-old champion (1956 & 1957) and Bye Bye Byrd, world champion pacer in 1958-59.
Surviving are the wife, two sons, Richard D. of Indianapolis and James B. of Crawfordsville; two daughters, Mrs. Sue Ann Smith of Indianapolis and Mrs. Maxine Rose of Chicago; 10 grandchildren; a brother, Charles B. of Atlanta, GA and an aunt and uncle. His mother died two years ago. Funeral services are announced for 2 p.m. Tuesday at Hunt & Son Funeral Home where friends may call today. Rev. John Paul Waye will officiate. Interment in Waynetown Masonic Cemetery.