Bio: Klein, John (Broken Leg - 1955)

Contact: Stan

Email: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Klein, Bender, Kollmansberger

----Source: Loyal Tribune (Loyal, Clark Co., Wis.)   09/08/1955

Klein, John (Broken Leg - 2 SEP 1955)

An unusual accident at Lennie’s Auto Repair Friday morning resulted in a broken leg and bruises on the head for repairman John Klein, who is employed there.

The chain of events leading to the mishap started when Mrs. Merlin Bender parked her 1949 Ford at the southeast corner of the station.  She had entered the building and was engaged in conversation with owner Leonard Kollmansberger when she notice the car with her child in it had started to move.

John Klein, who was working on a Loyal Canning Co. 2 ton truck parked on the east side of the lot, also noticed the car moving towards the north.

In hurrying to stop the Ford, Klein three the truck into third gear.  He ran to the Ford and was just getting into the door, when the truck rammed the ford, pinned his head between the top of the door and his leg at the bottom.  Unknown to Klein, Mrs. Bender had already reached the car and stopped it before it collided with Lennie’s tow truck.

In his haste, Klein apparently neglected to set the truck brake and the truck actually followed hi, although he was unaware of it.  Both the truck and auto traveled some 40 to 50 feet before the collision and it was only a chance in a million that their paths would cross at the same place.

There was no damage to the truck, but the door of the Bender car was bent both top and bottom where Klein was pinned.  Klein was taken to the doctor for treatment and after his leg was put in a cast he was taken home to recuperate.