Ricklehoff, Irvin
Source: Kingman Star Friday, July 8, 1949
Irvin Ricklehoff, 44, of Ferdinand, Indiana, burned to death in a dramatic truck crash on US 41, south of Veedersburg at the Centennial Church crossing at 9:45 Wednesday night. The accident occurred at the narrow culvert just north of the crossing when two huge fully loaded tractor trailer trucks side swiped.
Wesley A. Slocum, 36 and his son, Bud, 17, of Justin, Michigan were in the other truck but escaped injury.
Ricklehoff was driving south in a Morrow truck and Slocum was headed north. Both trucks careened after the side swipe and both overturned across US 41 about 400 feet apart. The Ricklehoff truck crashed into a REMC highline pole on the east side of the highway and the tractor overturned and immediately caught fire. Slocum stated that he saw the truck catch fire almost immediately and heard the driver call for help. Flames enveloped the cab of the truck when the gasoline tanks ignited.
Efforts of Slocum to rescue Ricklehoff from the cab of his truck proved unavailing due to the rapidity with which the fire spread.
Slocum said Ricklehoff never said a word during the brief period when he was pinioned in the wreckage in which his foot was caught. Ricklehoff could not move, Slocum said, and he could not move him.
The Veedersburg fire department soon extinguished the fire but the driver was completely burned by the time the truck arrived.
Slocum was given a drunk-o-meter test by State Police Jim Frazier and Clarence Short. He was under the legal limit at that time (about three hours after the crash) but was being held in Covington for further investigation. Coroner Charles Fishero stated that action would come from the prosecutor and State Police if police tests seemed to warrant such action. He was booked on a drunk driving charge Thursday morning.
Traffic was completely tied up from the time of the crash until the early hours of the morning as the fully loaded semi-trailers had to be unloaded and REMC highline workers had to clear the wire from the accident scene.
Unloading of the north bound truck was facilitated by the hundreds of spectators who found a possibility of getting a free case of beer or at least several bottles.
The body of Ricklehoff was taken to the Woodrow Funeral Home in Kingman and then to Ferdinand early Thursday. His driving buddies with the Morrow line stated that he was survived by his parents but had just received a divorce from this wife three weeks ago. There were no children.
Both drivers of the semis were experience drivers but on many small bridges in Indiana there is but a few inches clearance for passing through the narrow culverts.