Submitted by: Kristina Kuhn Krumm

South Bend Tribune

December 9, 1951; section 1 p. 1.

Harold J. Haney, age 54 of 749 North Diamond Avenue, was killed at about 4:40 PM Saturday when he was struck by a car in the 1200 block of Lincoln Way West.

Police listed the driver of the car as James Reddrick, 41, of 123 East Eckman Street. Reddrick stopped after the accident and, police said, talked to officers at the scene.  He then drove home, Reddrick said he was unaware that his car was involved in the accident until about 4 hours later, when he noticed that devoted his car was damaged.

Patrolmen Daniel Wiskoton and Edward Nawrocki said Haney was in the middle of the block when he was struck by the westbound car.  His body was thrown under the wheels of an eastbound car driven by Dwight L. Wertz, 64, of 5020 Lincoln Way West.

Wertz told police, "I heard a thump and my car started to act funny.  I thought I had hit a box or that my wheels had gone bad."  Wertz discovered the body when he stopped his car.

Deputy Coroner Lawrence W. Reece said Haney died of a skull fracture and multiple body fractures.

Reddrick reported to the police station at about 9 PM Saturday and shows officers his damaged car. Just before the accident, he said, he had let a passenger out of his car and Blaine Avenue.  He then turned West on Lincoln Way and drove a short distance when he heard a rattle.

Reddrick said he stopped his car when he saw other cars stopping and then walked back to the scene of the accident.  Police theorized that the rattle heard by Reddrick was caused by Haney's mental dinner pale said he was carrying home from work at the Wilson Brothers plant, 1008 West sample Street.

Police said it would be difficult to see a man standing in the middle of the Street where the accident occurred.  They said the light from the headlights of oncoming cars, reflected by the rain slick pavement, would obscure the vision of motorists.

Reddrick was released by police after questioning.

Mr. Haney was born in South Bend December 4, 1897, and lived his entire life here.  He leaves his widow, Mrs. Thelma Haney; a stepson, Elmer R. Coil; a brother, Bernard Haney, and two sisters, Mrs. Orvil Shoemaker and Mrs. William -rly, all of South Bend.  He was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church.

Friends may call in the Hickey funeral home after 6 PM today.