Submitted by: Mary Jo Koran

SBT 4/13 & 14/1951

James M. Harman

1925 - April 13, 1951

Mishawaka Dies in Gary Truck Crash

Mishap Also Fatal to 31-year-old Ohio Driver

James M. Harman, aged 26, son of Mrs. & Mrs. H.L.Harman, of mail route No. 19, East Jefferson Boulevard, Mishawaka, was fatally injured in the crash of two steel-laden trucks near Gary IN, this morning.  The driver of the second truck, Carl Lewis, aged 31, of Crooksville OH, was killed instantly.  The collision occurred a mile east of Gary on US highway No.20.

Indiana State Police said Harman's truck struck the rear of the truck driven by Lewis, who had stopped to study a road map.  Steel rods 18 feet long rammed through the cab of Harman's truck, fracturing his skull, then slid over Lewis' truck crushing Lewis' head and chest as they pierced his cab.  Harman died two hours later, at about 7 o'clock, in Gary's Mercy Hospital.

Harman, a veteran of WW II, re-entered the service as a reservist last November and was subsequently discharged at Bremerton WA because of foot trouble.  He was unmarried.  His parents left for Gary at 6:15 o'clock.

SBT April 14, 1951

Truck Victim's Rites Arranged

Private services for James M. Harman, aged 26, of mail route No. 19, East Jefferson Road, fatally injured in a crash of two steel-laden trucks near Gary IN, Friday morning, were held at 1pm, today in the Bubb Chapel.  Rev. John H. Meengs, Ph.D., pastor, officiated.  Burial was in St Joseph Valley Memorial Park.

Mr. Harman, son of Mr. & Mrs. Harold L. Harman, was born in Mishawaka and had always lived here.  He was a contract hauler for the Cushman Motor Transport, of Chicago.  Surviving are his parents and one sister, Miss Ann Harman, a student at Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo MI.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church.  He was graduated from Mishawaka High School in 1942 and was a veteran of WW II.  He served two years and eight months, the later months in Japan.