Claremont Man Crushed Under Auto

A 20-year-old Claremont man was crushed to death Tuesday night when a jack holding up the car he was working under slipped.

Herman E. Volk, son of Herman E. and Mary Rennier Volk was pronounced dead at the scene by Richland County Coroner, Susan P. Landis. Coroner Landis said there were no witnesses to the accident which occurred between 7:30 and 7:50 p.m. Tuesday.

Volk was discovered by his father who went out to look for Volk when he did not respond to a call for dinner. “He then jacked up the car and pulled his son from under the car,” Coroner Landis said.

The coroner ruled that Volk died from crushing injuries to the chest.

The Decatur Herald (Decatur, IL) – Thursday, April 13, 1978

Herman E. Volk, Jr., 20 of Claremont was fatally injured on Tuesday, April 11, 1978 when a car he was working under fell on him in the garage at his home.

He was born March 1958 in Olney, son of Herman E. and Mary Rennier Volk.

He was employed in the laundry at the Richland Memorial Hospital.

Surviving are his parents, Herman and Mary Volk of rural Claremont; two brothers and a sister, Patrick, Kenny Ray and Debra, all at home; and grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. E.J. Rennier of Claremont and Henry Volk of Ingraham.

Burial in the St. Joseph's Cemetery at Stringtown.

He was a member of the Olney Council of the Knights of Columbus and members of that organization will attend the Rosary in a body.

Mr. Volk was not married and was living at home with his parents.

Published in Olney Daily Mail (IL)