2 Killed, 1 Critical In Crash Here

Cousins Fatally Injured

Dean and Blaine King, War Vets, Killed; Tekamah Man is Critical

Cars Hit Headon Near Here Tuesday

Two young men were fatally injured and a Tekamah man in critical condition today following ahead on crash of two automobiles on Highway 73 between Blair and Herman, half a mile north of Pleasant View School, Tuesday afternoon.

Dead, King, Dean, 27, amputee victim of World War II, driver of one of the cars. Son of Mr. and Mrs. James King of Blair. He died this morning.

Blaine King, 28, cousin of Dean and a passenger in his car. Son of Mr. and Mrs. C. A. King of Blair - he died at 3 p.m. yesterday.

Injured, Richard H. Holmes, 45, Tekamah.

According to a version given by State Patrolman Roy Koerberr, a southbound 1946, Ford, car driven by Dean King, traveling at high speeds, swerved into the path of a north bound 1949, Ford being driven by Holmes.

Holmes told Koerber that the King car was swerving erratically just before the crash and that he had no time to avoid hitting it when it careened over into his lane.

Ambulances brought the three crash victims to the Blair Hospital, and after emergency treatment, the two Kings, cousins, were moved to Veterans Hospital in Lincoln, where they both later died.

Holmes was taken to Doctors Hospital in Omaha, where this morning, he was given a 50-50 chance of survival.

Holmes, an employee of Peter Kewit Sons Co. in Omaha, was on his way home at the time. He suffered a possible broken back, possible broken kneecap, and two broken ankles, among other injuries. He was receiving blood transfusions today.

Head Injuries

Both Dean and Blaine King suffered severe head injuries in addition to broken bones.

Dean and Blaine King were veterans of World War II. Dean served in France, Blaine in Alaska, Okinawa, and Japan. At Saint Lo, France, Dean lost his leg when it was struck by a shell. Fitted with an artificial leg, he was later presented with an especially equipped car by the government, but the auto was wrecked in a crash, a short time later.

May hold double rites.

The body of Dean King, who died at 7:30 a.m. today, will be brought to Bendorf Funeral Home. Blaine King's body will arrive at the Campbell Mortuary tonight.

Although the plans were not completed at noon today, it's believe that a double funeral would be held possibly on Saturday.

Blaine King served in the army during the war and was discharged November 13, 1945. He re-enlisted the following day in Japan, serving until February 22, 1947. Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. A. King; one sister, Mrs. Floyd Sheets (Grace) of Herman; and seven brothers, George, Victor, Clarence, Floyd, and Harry King, all of Blair; and Lyle and Robert King in California.

Dean King is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James King; three brothers, Leonard, David, and Rex King, all of Blair; and three sisters, Mrs. Woodrow Minor, Idell and Mrs. Roy Betts (Lucille), both of Grand Island; Mrs. Russell Hathaway (Alene) of Pendleton, Ore., Dean's twin sister.

Enterprise 10 March 1949

(Photo: Caption – Remains of the Ford coupe in which Blaine and Dean King lost their lives)

2 Dead, Another In Serious Condition Following Crash

Blaine and Dean King Die at Veterans’ Hospital

CONSTRUCTION WORKER MAY DIE

Two men have died and little hope is held for the life of one other involved in a collision north of Blair near the Pleasant View School Tuesday afternoon. The accident occurred about three o’clock during a brief, but heavy, flurry of snow.

Blaine King, a passenger in a Ford Coupe which was traveling south died early Wednesday at the Veterans’ Hospital in Lincoln. His cousin, Dean King, who was driving, was also taken to the Lincoln hospital and passed away at 7 A.M. Thursday morning.

The car driven by the Kings was struck by another driver by Dick Holmes of Tekamah. Holmes is a construction worker for the Peter Kiewitt Company of Omaha and has been engaged in river construction work in the Tekamah vicinity.

According to information given to Nebraska Safety Patrolman Ray Koerber, who was summoned to the crash scene, the car driven by the Kings was coming toward Blair at a high rate of speed. Holmes, while still conscious, told Patrolman Koerber that the car was weaving badly. As the two cars met, King’s car swerved directly across the road in front of Holmes’ car resulting in a terrific crash as Holmes struck squarely, head on, into the center of the King car.

Blaine King sustained a broken left ankle, a broken right leg, serious internal injuries, cuts and bruises. His cousin, Dean, was injured in a similar manner. Blaine died without gaining consciousness. Dean had not regained consciousness late Wednesday.

Holmes received fractured ankles, had both hips broken, and suffered considerably from shock and cuts. He was fully conscious for some time after being taken from the wreck.

Dean King is a veteran of World War II. During service he suffered the loss of a leg and in keeping with a government policy, he was given the car as a partial compensation for the loss of his limb. He has had an unfortunate record with the car, however, having been involved in accidents frequently since receiving it. Both of the men are 28 years of age.

Holmes was rushed to the Blair hospital immediately following the accident and was later taken to Doctors Hospital in Omaha. He had lapsed into unconsciousness late Wednesday and his condition was considered very serious. Holmes, who was driving a nearly new Ford sedan, is reported to have been traveling at a moderate rate of speed. He sustained broken ankles, broken hips, a broken wrist, a fractured back and numerous less serious injuries.

No arrangements for the services of the Kings had been made this (Thursday) morning. Campbell Mortuary is in charge of the services.

Pilot Tribune 17 March 1949

(Photo: Caption – Rites Held for Crash Victims - While a military guard stands at attention, the body of 27 year-old Dean King, Blair war veteran, is borne from the Assembly of God Church. King and his cousin, Blaine King, were fatally injured in an auto crash near Blair last week and were buried in double military rites. – Pilot Tribune Photo)

Double Rites for War Vets

Crash Victims, Dean and Blaine King Are Buried On Saturday

The Assembly of God Church was filled to overflowing Saturday as double funeral services were conducted for Dean and Blaine King, Blair, cousins and World War II veterans, who were fatally hurt in an auto crash last week.

The Rev. R. V. Umphenour, pastor, officiated. The bodies were buried in the same plot in Blair Cemetery under direction of the Campbell Mortuary and the Bendorf Funeral Home.

The VFW firing squad and the VFW and American Legion color guards officiated at military honors at the church and graveside.

Pallbearers were World War II veterans. Bearers for Dean King were Ray C. Hansen, Milton Hansen, Arnold Matzen, Ted Therkelsen, John Brown, Jr., and Harold Small. Pallbearers for Blaine King were Harold Rabbass, Keith Vinton, Robert McMillan, Bill Henningsen, Earl Wulf and Woodrow West.

Dean King, who was driving his car with Blaine as a passenger when the crash occurred north of Blair Mar. 8, was born at Lynch, Nebr., Nov. 12, 1921, son of Mr. and Mrs. James King. He died at the Veterans Hospital in Lincoln last Thursday at the age of 27. Dean served with the army in the recent war, and lost his left leg in the Battle of St. ?, France. He is survived by his parents; three brothers, Leonard, David and Rex King, all of Blair, and three sisters, Mrs. Woodrow Minor (Idell) and Mrs. Roy Betts (Lucille), both of Grand Island, and Mrs. Russell Hathaway, (Alene) of Pendleton, Ore., his twin sister. A brother, Paul, preceded him in death, as did a half-brother.

Blaine Here Since 1929

Blaine Wilson King, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. A. (Abner) King, was born Sept. 18, 1921, at Nenzel, Nebr., where he lived for eight years. He died Mar. 9 at the Veterans Hospital in Lincoln. The Kings moved to Blair in 1929, and he attended Kindred School, north of Blair. He entered the army Sept. 19, 1942, and served in Fairbanks and Seward, Alaska, and on Okinawa. Discharged Nov. 13, 1945, while serving in Japan, he reenlisted the following day and served until Feb. 22, 1947.

Besides his parents, he is survived by a sister, Mrs. Floyd Sheets (Grace) Herman, and seven brothers, Lyle and Robert King of California, and George, Victor, Clarence, Floyd and Harry King, all of Blair.

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