Two-Auto Collision Claims Three Lives Girl, Two Men are Killed Near Hunter
Warrants Charge Hall With Manslaughter; Released Under Bond
Lives of three Floyd countians ,a 16-year-old girl and two men, were claimed as the result of a head-on collision of two automobiles, near Hunter, at 1:30 a.m. Saturday.
The Dead:
Elizabeth Ann Butler, 16, of Drift, killed at the time of the crash.
Larry Faulkner, 23, of Drift, who died nine hours later at the Methodist hospital, Pikeville.
Wilburn Lee Tackett, 73, of East McDowell, almost instantly killed. State trooper Larry Hatton, who investigated the tragedy, said Raymond Hall was driving Tackett's car, a Pontiac, in the direction of Martin, approaching the Chevrolet driven by Faulkner on a straight stretch of the Left Beaver Creek highway between the Hunter bridge and the site of the old school there. He said it was indicated the Tackett auto veered across the center-line for no apparent reason. Three voluntary manslaughter warrants were issued for Hall, and he was jailed here by Trooper Hatton. Hall later was released under bond. Trooper Hatton said Hall, Tackett, Estill Newsom and German Stumbo apparently were occupying the front seat of Tackett's car. He said some whiskey and beer were found in the auto after Tackett's body was removed, abut three hours after the wreck. The body was wedged in, between the seat and panel of the smashed car. The auto plunged over an embankment at a culvert after colliding with the other car, coming to rest almost on its end, and so the victim' body could not be extricated until the auto was pulled onto the highway. German Stumbo was injured but not seriously, and Hall and Newsome escaped with minor hurts.
Three persons, in addition to Larry Faulkner and Elizabeth Ann Butler occupied the other car, and two of these were seriously hurt. Crit Butler, 15, brother of Elizabeth Ann, is in St. Joseph hospital, Lexington, where he has been removed from the critical list, it was learned here Wednesday. Four-year-old Brenda Friend, daughter of the late Al Friend, and a cousin of the Butler girl, is partially paralyzed. James Mollet, f Drift, escaped without serious hurt.
Funeral rites for Miss Butler were conducted Wednesday afternoon from the home at Drift of her parents, J.C. and Bessie Martin Butler, by the Rev. John W. Conley. Burial was made in the family cemetery. Besides her parents, she is survived by one brother, Crit, who was with her at the time of the wreck.
Faulkner, who was graduated in 1960 from McDowell high school and was employed as a night watchman, was a son of Mrs. Katherine Moore Faulkner, of Drift. He leaves his mother and three sisters, Mrs. Joan Griffie, Goshen, Ohio, Misses Mary Ann and Peggy Sue Faulkner, both of Drift. Funeral rites were conducted from the Faulkner home Tuesday morning, the Revs. Ross Hopkins, Hershell Huff, Mack McCloud and Jerry Hall officiating. Burial was made in Drift cemetery.
Tackett, a retired miner, was a son of George and Elizabeth Akers Tackett. He was twice married, first to Katie Moore and later to Rhoda Hall. Both preceded him in death. He leaves one son, Carlos Tackett, Kansas City, Kansas, and four daughters, Mrs. Lestie Stout, Michigan City, Indiana, Mrs. Brookie May, Jackson, Ohio, Mrs. Blanche Porter, Gale, Illinois, and Mrs. Bessie Hamilton, Oceana, West Virginia. His funeral rites was conducted Monday morning from Little Rosa Baptist Church at East McDowell by the Rev. Harry Moore. Burial was made in the Lucy Hall cemetery at McDowell. Funerals of all three victims were under the direction of the Hall Brothers Funeral Home.
Submitted by Val at HaloHound@webtv.net
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