Two Killed, Three Hurt in Car Crash

Wheeler, IL -- Two teenagers were killed and three others injured, two critically, late Wednesday night (September 4, 1974) when their car sideswiped a bridge, hit a semi-trailer truck and overturned.

Pronounced dead at the scene of the mishap were Vincent L. Berry, 17 of Olney and Linda F. Fehrenbacher, 14 of Newton. The youths were passengers in a car driven by Rick A. Lame, 17 of Olney. Lame was reported in serious condition Thursday night at St. Anthony Memorial Hospital in Effingham.

Two other passengers in the Lame car were also injured. Michael Hickel, 16 of Olney was also reported in serious condition Thursday in St. Anthony’s. Karen S. Reynolds, 15 of Calhoun was first taken to St. Anthony’s in Effingham and later transferred to Richland Memorial Hospital in Olney. She was listed in fair condition at that hospital Thursday.

State Police said the accident occurred at 10:20 p.m. Wednesday, and that the Lame auto had been traveling too fast to negotiate the highway curve on Ill 33, near the Wheeler blacktop, when the car sideswiped a bridge and struck the left rear wheels of an oncoming semi gasoline tanker truck, driven by Larry Trail, 44 of St. Louis. Trail was not injured in the accident.

After striking the truck, the car skidded off the roadway and overturned, police said, throwing the four passengers out of the vehicle.

Jasper County Coroner’s Jury Tuesday night ruled the death of two youths in the September 4 car-truck wreck was caused by an avoidable accident.

The Decatur Herald (Decatur, IL) – Friday September 6, 1974

Vincent L. Berry, 17, was killed September 4, 1974.  He was born in 1957 in Olney, the son of R. Keith and Marla Griggs Berry.

He worked as an attendant at the Clark Service Station on East Main Street and was a member of Olney Southern Baptist Church.

He is survived by his parents; three sisters, Mrs. Judy Propes of Olney, Debbie and Marla Berry at home; a brother, Tim at home; grandmother, Mrs. Lois Griggs, Sumner; one nephew, Billy Propes of Olney.

Services at Summers-Marshall Funeral Home with the Rev. Leroy J. Smith officiating. Burial at Haven Hill Cemetery.

Published in Olney Daily Mail (IL)