Bio: Drescher, Martha (Car accident - 1973)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Drescher, Olson, Perkins

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 10/25/1973

Drescher, Martha (Car accident - 1973)

Martha Drescher, 17, the present holder of the Miss Neillsville and a past honored queen of Job’s Daughters, received severe injuries in a one car crash on Highway 95 near the Black River Bridge around midnight Friday.

The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Art Drescher, 302 Grand Ave., Martha received multiple injuries including lacerations to the head and arms, and as yet undetermined internal and back injuries with what has been termed possible paralysis.

The accident occurred when Martha and a friend, Gary Olson, were returning to Neillsville from the Hatfield area. According to investigating officer Albert Perkins, Olson swerved to ‘miss a deer’ which caused his small foreign convertible to overturn.

Both occupants of the vehicle were thrown from the wreckage. Olson and the girl were taken to the Neillsville Hospital, with Martha transferred later to a Rochester, Minnesota hospital.

Martha’s father related Tuesday the exploratory operations were scheduled for Wednesday and further testing for spinal column damage was set for this week. She is expected to remain in the Rochester hospital for approximately three weeks.

Martha was crowned Miss Neillsville during this year’s winter carnival and has represented the city at various area community events. She was corned honored queen of Job’s Daughters last year.

The final accident report of Officer Perkins had not been filed by Tuesday afternoon, so full details to the accident were unavailable at press time.

Get well wishes can be sent to Martha Drescher, Room 181, St. Mary’s Hospital, Rochester, Minnesota 55901.