J. Hicks Killed In Saw Mill Accident

A 38-year-old Olney man was dead on arrival at RMH Monday evening, April 21, 1980, as the result of an accident at a saw mill near his home.

According to Richland County Coroner, Susan Landis Bromm, Jack R. Hicks, Rt. 2, was sawing rough wood with a circular saw when the wood caught in the saw, flipped backwords, and struck Hicks. The incident occurred between 7:15 and 7:30 p.m. at the saw mill located behind his mother’s home near Seminary.

Bromm said Hicks’ son, Jay, 17 and a friend, David Walden, witnessed the accident. According to Walden, the wood struck Hicks in the body and he staggered backward a few steps and fell to the ground. Witnesses said he quit breathing a short time later and was given resuscitation at the scene.

Two Richland County ambulances responded to the incident. Hicks was given resuscitation during the trip to RMH, but he was pronounced dead at 8:51 p.m.

Bromm said there were no external injuries. The coroner said preliminary autopsy results indicate death was due to a cardiac rhythm malfunction caused by a severe blow to the heart. Bromm said there were abdominal injuries also.

Confusing directions delayed the arrival of the ambulances by nearly 40 minutes according to ambulance personal. Records show the first call came into the RMH ambulance dispatcher at 7:20 p.m. with an ambulance enroute at 7:23 p.m. The ambulance arrived at the Hick’s residence at approximately 8 p.m.

Geis said different directions to the Hicks’ home were given to the ambulance dispatcher and the police dispatcher.

“We could have made the run in 12 to 13 minutes.” Geis said, “If the directions had been exact. County road signs or numbers identifying the roads would have helped.”

Hicks is survived by his wife, Willa, three sons, Jackie Jr., Jay and Jon and a daughter, Jana, all at home.

Olney Daily Mail (IL) – April 22, 1980

Hicks Death Accident

A coroner’s jury ruled last night that 38-year-old Jack Hicks came to his death as a result of accidental means.

The jury’s verdict said Hicks died as a result of injuries sustained in a sawmill accident which occurred at approximately 7:15 p.m. on April 21. The accident occurred in Madison Township of Richland County in a sawmill behind his mother’s home.

According to the findings, Hicks was pronounced dead at RMH at 8:51 p.m. The cause of death was determined to be ventricular standstill, secondary to a severe blow to the chest. There were also contributing abdominal injuries, according to the verdict.

Testifying at the inquest were David Walden, with Hicks at the time of the accident, deputy Jerry McVaigh, and emergency medical technician, Jack Fleeharty.

Olney Daily Mail (IL)

Jackie Ray Hicks, 38, died Monday evening April 21, 1980 at Richland Memorial Hospital after a saw mill accident at his mother's home.

Burial in Oak Hill Cemetery in Parkersburg.

Mr. Hicks was born in Richland County on Sept. 28, 1941, son of Harry and Lorena (Bare) Hicks. He married Willa May Luthe on Oct. 8, 1960 in Richland County, and she survives.

He is survived by three sons, Jackie Jr., Jay, and Jon, and a daughter, Jana all at home, a brother, Jimmie, Noble, a sister, Mrs. Carolyn Newby, his mother, Lorena Hicks, Olney and his grandmother, Mrs. Lola Hicks, West Salem.

He was preceded in death by his father in 1963, and a sister Linda in 1962. 

Published in Olney Daily Mail (IL)