Heavy Load Overturns
September 2, 1971
John Lee Richardson, 36, driver of this eastbound truck and trailer, received only minor injuries on Saturday evening at about seven o’clock when his out-of-control vehicle overturned at the north end of Main Street and ended up on the sidewalk next to the J. C. Penney store.
Richardson said that the brakes on his vehicle, loaded with 22 tons of newsprint, failed just as he entered the city limits on St. Rt. 36. As he turned the corner onto Main Street he swung into the westbound lane to avoid a collision with a vehicle in front and struck a westbound pickup driven by Floyd Hanzlik of Wendel.
Hundreds of local people watched during the approximately five hours required to tow away the truck and unload the rolls of newsprint from the trailer before righting it.
So far as could be determined there was no damage to the Penney building. There was major damage to the truck and trailer and to the Hanzlik pickup.
