Clements, Richard Dale, 19

Burial in Herman Cemetery

HERMAN YOUTH IS FATALLY INJURED IN AUTO MISHAP (photo)

Dick Clements Dies Monday After Car Hits Bridge Friday

Richard Dale Clements, 19, of Herman, died in an Omaha hospital Monday of injuries suffered in a traffic accident early Friday morning.

He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Hurley Clements, who live on a farm near Herman.

HIT BRIDGE

The mishap occurred a mile and a half east of Kennard when the car in which he was riding crashed into a bridge. The driver of the machine, Irvin Sheets, also of Herman, was unhurt. Mr. Clements was taken to the Blair Hospital and then rushed to an Omaha hospital.

Deputy Sheriff Claude Clements said the driver of the car went to sleep at the wheel ?, before hitting the bridge railings.

FRIENDS DONATED BLOOD

Shortly before his death, 32 of his friends from Herman, Blair and Tekamah communities donated 28 pints of blood at the Blood Center in Omaha. Prior to his death, he had been given 14 pints of blood and several units of plasma.

He suffered a compound ankle fracture, a fractured pelvis, cuts, bruises, internal injuries and shock. His body was punctured by a metal object believed to be one of the bridge railings.

FUNERAL TODAY

Final rites will be held today (Thursday) at 2 p.m. At the Herman Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the Herman Cemetery. The Bendorf Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Pallbearers are Donald Petersen, Pidge McVeigh, Dick Hancock, Frank Korshoj, Bud Iversen and Dwight Wubbenhorst.

SEVENTH IN COUNTY

Mr. Clements was born on a farm near Herman March 12, 1932. He was graduated from Herman High in 1950 and since then has helped his father on the farm.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by two brothers, Virgil of Decatur and Irwin of Herman, and a sister, Mrs. Gerald Yowell of Herman.

His death marked the seventh fatality of the year.

#2 Enterprise 30 Aug 1951

(Photo/caption: Bridge Rail Rips Through Front Of Car. The demolished Sheets car after ramming into bridge rail)

(Photo/caption: Richard Clements)

Youth Dies Of Crash Injuries

Richard Clements, Popular Herman Youth in Wreck near

Richard Dale Clements, popular 19-year-old youth died in an Omaha hospital Monday night, the victim of a highway accident. He died shortly after a group of 32 friends had donated blood in his behalf.

Richard was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Hurley Clements of the Herman vicinity. He had been born and reared on the farm and of a family of four was the only one remaining at home, the others are all married.

He was injured early last Friday when a car in which he was a passenger crashed into a bridge railing between Kennard and Blair on Highway 30.

The driver, Irvin Sheets, 19 also of Herman, escaped with no serious injuries.

Immediately following the accident Richard was taken to the Blair Hospital and later to the Clarkson Hospital in Omaha where he was placed under expert care. His condition was reported as very bad and but little hope was held out to the grief stricken parents.

Blood Transfusions were resorted to and in all he was given 14 whole pints of blood and several units of plasma. His young friends who were most solicitous as to his welfare gathered at the Blood Center in Omaha from Blair, Herman and Tekamah and gave 28 pints of blood in his behalf.

Everything known to medical science was done but to no avail and he passed away at about 6:20 Monday evening. His battered and bruised body could not withstand the terrible shock and a merciful Providence ended his suffering.

The body was taken to the Bendorf Funeral home from the Clarkson Hospital in Omaha. Funeral services are planned to be held at 2 o’clock Thursday afternoon at the Herman Baptist church with Rev. Glen Emmett officiating and interment under the supervision of the Bendorf Funeral home will be made in the Herman cemetery.

Deceased was a graduate of the Herman High School in the class of 1950 and was a likeable and popular young man and he will be missed by a host of friends.

Besides the bereaved parents he leaves a sister, Mrs. Gerald Yowell of Herman and two brothers, Virgil of Decatur and Irvin of Herman. Besides these there are a number of other relatives who will mourn his passing.

His death was the seventh traffic fatality of the year in Washington County and made 202 in the state.

The pall bearers who will bear his body to its last resting place are Donald Petersen, Pidge McVeigh, Dick Hancock, Frank Korshoj, Bud Iversen and Dwight Wubbenhorst.

#3 Pilot Tribune Thursday, 30 Aug 1951

CRASH NEAR BLAIR KILLS YOUTH, 19

Seventh Fatal Mishap

Dick Clements of Herman Dies Four Days after Car Hits Road Bridge

Violent death on the highway struck for the seventh time this year in Washington County during the week.

Richard Dale (Dick) Clements, 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. Hurlie Clements of near Herman, died at Clarkson Hospital Monday night after being critically injured on Highway 30 between Kennard and Blair early Friday.

The youth had waged a game but unsuccessful four-day fight for life. He had been given 14 points of whole blood and several units of plasma. On Monday, 32 residents of the Herman, Blair and Tekamah communities had gone to Omaha’s Red Cross blood center to give 28 points of blood as their way of helping the youth in his fight to live.

Young Clements was gravely injured when the car in which he was riding driven by 19-year-old Irvin Sheets of Herman, struck a bridge on Highway 30 between Kennard and the Barry Hill.

Sheets escaped with superficial hurts, although the car was demolished and the bridge partially wrecked. The boys were enroute home after attending the Washington County fair at Arlington.

Treated in Blair

Clements, his pulse almost stopped by loss of blood, was rushed to Blair Hospital for emergency treatment and blood transfusions and later transferred to Clark Hospital in Omaha.

He had suffered a fractured pelvis, compound fracture of the left ankle, numerous cuts and bruises, and severe shock. Most serious injury, however, was his being impaled by a piece of steel from the mangled automobile. The battery of the car had been jammed against him and the steel entered his groin.

Young Clements was born near Herman Mar. 12, 1932. He was graduated from Herman High School in 1950, since which time he had been assisting his father in farming.

Surviving him are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hurlie Clements; two brothers, Virgil Clements of Decatur and Irvin Clements of Herman; and a sister, Mrs. Gerald Yowell (Mildred) of Herman. Deputy Sheriff Claude Clements of Blair is his uncle.

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

Find a Grave # 90149025