Mitchell Porter, 8, Died Of Car-Bus Injuries

Was struck by car when running to enter school bus

Mitchell Gene Porter, 8-year-old Blair boy who was critically injured last Friday when struck by a car as he was running to board a school bus, died at the Immanuel Hospital in Omaha Monday evening, October 1st.

Mitchell, the son of Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Porter, of 1171 South 13th Street, was struck by a car as the school bus stopped for him in front of his home near the Masonic Temple in southeast Blair. Rain was falling at the time.

The school bus was traveling north and was preparing to enter the city when it stopped for the Porter children. Mitchell has a brother and a sister who are also in school. The school bus was being driven by Don L. Davis, Omaha Village apartments on the Dana College campus. The bus had its light flashing as it was stopped.

The car which struck the lad was driven by Dean A. Ness, of Blair, who was traveling south on Highway 73 enroute to his work in Omaha. Visibility was poor, due to the rain, Ness stated, and he was unable to stop when he saw the lad because of the wet condition of the pavements, he stated.

Ness’ car went into a skid when he applied the brakes and crashed into a farm truck which had stopped behind the school bus. Mitchell was reported to have been thrown the length of the bus and then slid under the truck.

The Blair Rescue Squad was called and Mitchell was rushed to the Blair hospital and later taken to Omaha. His condition remained critical at all times and he died at 10:30 Monday evening.

The Porters lived at Missouri Valley, prior to moving to Blair. Mr. Porter is a stonecutter for the Schmidt Monument works in Blair.

Mitchell is survived by his parents, by a sister, Rebecca and a brother, Ernest.

Mitchell’s grandmothers also survive. They are Mrs. Alla Dungan, of Omaha and Mrs. Millie Porter of Missouri Valley.

Funeral services are being held today (Thursday) at 2:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church with the Rev. Gordon Patterson conducting the service. Burial will be made in the Rose Hill Memorial Gardens at Missouri Valley, Iowa, under the direction of Hennessey, Van Cleave and Hurley.

The casket will be open for viewing at the church from 1:00 until 1:00 p.m. Pallbearers will be Lloyd Coulter, Charles Kelly, Jerry Petersen and Gary Wachter.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~