| Notes |
- Youths Killed At Freedom
Two More in Auto Injured In Early-Morning Crash After Leaving Beer Bar
Two of four teen-agers whom police said had just been at a Freedom beer bar, died early today when their car rammed the rear of another auto at State 55 and Outagamie County Trunk UU, a mile south of Freedom.
Dead are Richard Dercks, 18, 1164 Harrison St., Kaukauna, and Michael VanHandel, also 18, of route 4, Appleton. VanHandel, driver of one car, was killed almost instantly of crushing chest injuries, according to Outagamie County Coroner Bernard H. Kemps. Dercks, his passenger, died about 3 a.m. at Kaukauna Community Hospital from severe hemorrhaging as a result of a severed jugular vein.
Their deaths raised the county traffic toll to 23, seven more than at this time last year, and hiked the state toll to 895, compared with 909 a year ago.
Four teen-agers were injured in the crash which occurred just after midnight. Among the injured were two more passengers in the VanHandel car, David VandenHuevek, 19, 208 Sarah St., Kaukauna, who suffered cuts, bumps, and bruises including a severely lacerated hand, and Thomas Jackl, 19, 127 Taylor St., Kaukauna, who suffered a possible broken leg, a dislocated shoulder, and a fractured right thigh, in addition to bumps and bruises. They were taken to Kaukauna Community Hospital by Kaukauna Ambulance.
County police said that the driver of the second car was Gary R. Ver Voort, 16, route 5, Appleton, who escaped injury. Two of his passengers suffered minor injuries. They were Michael R. Dercks, 16, 1156 Taft St., Little Chute (disant relation to the victim) who suffered a bruised right let; and Bruce Diedrich, 15, route 2, Kaukauna, who had a sore right leg and chipped teeth. They were examined at Kaukauna Hospital then released.
Authorities said that Ver Voort, who was southbound on State 55, stopped to allow an oncoming car to pass before making a left turn onto UU. It was while he was stopped that his car was rammed in the rear by the southbound VanHandel auto. The Ver Voort car, 1 1958 model, ws shoved more than 120 feet down the highway after the impact.
Authorities had to pry Van Handel and Richard Dercks from the front seat of VanHandel's 1963 auto. . . .
- Richard Dercks
1164 Harrison, Kaukauna
Age 18, passed away about 3 a.m. following an automobile accident. Richard was born April 4, 1949 in Appleton and was a senior at Kaukauna High School. Survivors are his parents, Mrs. and Mrs. George Dercks, six brothers, William, in the service in Vietnam, Dennis, James, George Jr., Joseph, Daniel, all at home; two sisters, Barbara and Susan, at home; maternal grandfather, Peter Micke, Kaukauna. Funeral services have tentatively been set for 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Holy Cross Catholic Church. Interment will be in the parish cemetery. friends may call at the FArgo Funeral H ome after 2 p.m. Monday. Rosary will be prayed at 8 p.m. Monday.
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1949 - 1967 (18 years)
