Surnames: Wilson, Meier, Underwood, Melvin, Shannon

Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) Thursday, 11/18/1954

Wilson, Curtiss (1931? - 11 Nov. 1954)

Curtiss Wilson of Milan, age 23, was killed instantly and his companion, Miss Mary Meier of Chelsea, age 18, was severly injured last Thursday morning at 1:45 o’clock when the car in which they were riding plunged from Highway 13 and smashed into a driveway abutment three miles north of Medford. It was Taylor county’s second traffice fatality this year.

Curtiss Wilson is a son of Mr. and Mrs. John Wilson of Milan, former Colby people. Mr. Wilson operated the Standard Oil bulk station in Colby, Wisconsin for several years.

Miss Meier suffered a fractured pelvis and dislocated hip and is being treated at Medford Hospital. Her injuries were described as severe but not critical.

Only meager details of the accident were available. Miss Meier told Don Underwood, investigating officer, that she was asleep in the car and did not know what happened. She said Wilson was driving her to her home in Chelsea.

From circumstances surrounding the mishap authorities deduced that Wilson apparently dozed while driving. The car left the right side of the road, traveled some distance along a ditch, smashed against a driveway abutment and catapulted back onto the highway, a complete wreck. Both Wilson and Miss Meier were thrown out of the car as it landed back onto the roadway.

A resident of the area attracted to the scene by the noise of the crash notified authorities. Miss Meier was removed in an ambulance to the Medford Hospital. Wilson’s body was taken to the Hartwig and Reusch Funeral Home in Medford.

Wilson was employed as a truck driver by Francis Melvin, operator of truck fleets in Medford and Abbotsford, Wis. He purchased his car, a 1953 model, about a week ago.

Besides his parents, a brother and six sisters survive. The parents of the injured girl are Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Meier of Chelsea.

Taylor county’s only other traffic fatality this year cost the life of Eldon Shannon, a county employee. The accident occurred early in spring.