(veteran)

Former Blair Man Killed In Fiery Crash

Gasoline Transport Ruptured After Crash At 100th & L Streets

Wayne L. Petersen, a former Washington County man, was killed in a crash in Omaha Thursday evening at the One Hundred Twentieth and L Streets Intersection.

Petersen was driving a gasoline transport which split open in the crash. The jettisoned fuel caught fire burning Petersen to death as well as two passengers of the car which was involved. Victims in the car were Mr. Celestine Raymond of Millard and her son Roy, 14. Bodies of all of the victims were burned beyond recognition.

Petersen was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold W. Petersen who formerly lived in the Herman area. Both Mr. and Mrs. Petersen were killed in a traffic accident north of Blair in 1956.

Wayne was born June 6, 1945 at Plainview, Nebraska. He was married to the former Diana Kay Allen (Mitzi) of Blair.

He had served four years in the Air Force prior to his employment by the Mobil Oil Company of Omaha, owners of the transport which he was driving.

He is survived by his wife and by four children, Jacqueline Ann, Dale, Charles and Marilyn. A sister, Mrs. Georgia Ann Claborn lives in Omaha and a brother, Kenneth Petersen lives at Herman. Walter Petersen, of west of Blair, is a great-uncle of the deceased man. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Allen of Blair are the father and mother of Mrs. Petersen.

Funeral services will be held at Blair this (Monday) afternoon at the First Methodist Church with the Rev. Richard Atherton conducting the service. Burial will be made in the Blair cemetery under the direction of the Campbell Mortuary.

Note: Per Blair Cemetery listing: died 20 June 1968; buried Blk 115 Lot 42 Grave 6

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