Olney Man, 22, Crushed Under Truck Wheels

A Richland County Highway Department worker was killed Monday afternoon, south of Olney under the wheels of a highway department truck.

The victim was Gilbert James Ochs, 22, of Olney who died at about 2:10 p.m. of crushing chest and abdomen injuries, said Richland County Coroner, Susan Landis.

Ochs was riding on the back ledge of the truck while he and another employee were filling potholes in the county road about five miles south of Olney, when the accident occurred.

The other man was looking in another direction for a time and then saw Ochs underneath the 10-wheel truck, the coroner said. Ochs was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Decatur Herald (Decatur,IL) – Wednesday, May 24, 1978

Gilbert James Ochs, 22, of 127 S. Washington St., Olney was fatally injured in an accident south of Noble Monday afternoon, May 22, 1978, while working on a county highway road repair project.

He was born in Olney June 21, 1955, the son of Albert and Virginia (Davis) Ochs.

He had been an employee of the Richland County Highway Department for the past five years. Mr. Ochs was a member of the St. Joseph Church in Olney, the Olney Bowling Association and the Sportsman's Club.

Surviving are his parents; a sister, Carolyn Ochs at home; and grandparents, Mrs. Clara Ochs of Olney and Mr. and Mrs. William E. Davis of Olney.

Interment in the St. Joseph Cemetery in Stringtown.

Published in Olney Daily Mail (IL)