Robert Franklin Bozarth 1951 - 1966

BOZARTH, BROEKER, TURNER

Posted By: Deb (email)
Date: 6/15/2017 at 17:34:51

The Burlington Hawk-Eye, front page, July 26, 1966; Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa:

Truck Accident Fatal To Youth

Middletown (IA) -- A New London youth, Robert Franklin Bozarth, 15, died of suffocation when he was pinned in the cab of a truck which crashed off the Geode blacktop three miles west of Middletown Monday afternoon.

Highway Patrolman Donald Ruppert said Robert's neck was pinned against the seat of the cab and that he was dead before a wrecker crew was able to pull him loose.

Robert, son of Mr. and Mrs. Willis Bozarth, was riding in a truck with William Cousins, 17, and Thomas Bjorklund, 14, both of New London.

Cousins, the driver, suffered a fractured right hand and was dismissed after treatment at Burlington hospital. Thomas had a skinned left hand.

Ruppert said Cousins told him he was driving east at 45 miles per hour when the truck swerved, causing him to lose control. The truck traveled 255 feet before overturning in a south ditch, Ruppert said.

The officer said brakes on the vehicle, which was a complete loss, were faulty. It was a 5-ton vehicle owned by Bjorklund's father, Floyd Bjorklund, who is in the well drilling business.

The mishap occurred at 3 p.m. Ruppert said the accident remains under investigation.

Services for Robert Bozarth will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Elliott Chapel, New London.