LOCAL RESIDENTS DIE IN WRECK
Franklin Smith, JHS Senior, Lyman Cash, and Betty Jett Killed Near Sikeston
Three Jonesboro and Nettleton residents are dead as the result of a car-truck collision last night at 9:15 near Sikeston, MO.
Dead are:
Lyman (Flash) Cash, 27 Nettleton auto dealer who was killed instantly.
Franklin Smith, 18, of 1409 West Mathews, a senior at Jonesboro High School, who died enroute to the hospital at Sikeston.
Miss Betty Jett, 19, of Nettleton, who died at 10 o’clock this morning at Sikeston Community Hospital of injuries sustained in the wreck.
Another Nettleton girl, Donna Sue Martin, 19, escaped with a broken collar bone. She is in the Sikeston Hospital.
Sgt. E. F. Dampf of the Missouri Highway Patrol said Cash was driving a 1948 Cadillac east on Highway 60 when the car struck a truck.
The accident occurred eight miles west of Sikeston on Highway 60 a half-mile west of the Morehouse community in New Madrid County—about 35 yards from the Stoddard County line.
Sgt. Dampf said his investigation revealed that a truck belonging to a carnival had broken down and was parked on the shoulder of the road. A second large truck, owned by a pipeline company in Houston, was attempting to take the carnival truck in tow, the officer explained. The pipeline truck “was nearly crossways on the highway,” according to Sgt. Dampf.
Cash and his three passengers, headed east, plowed into the side of the pipeline truck, submerging the large vehicle. The Cadillac ran underneath the truck bed with the front part of the car back to the front seat being beneath the bed of the truck when the car came to a halt, Sgt. Dampf explained. The top of the car “was just pushed back.” he added.
Sgt. Dampf said the truck drivers told him they had a flagman stationed “ quite a ways back” to halt approaching traffic, but apparently Cash did not see the flagman. It had been raining earlier, but was not raining at the time of the accident, the officer stated.
Both truck drivers, whose names were not learned, were jailed at Sikeston pending completion of the investigation, Sgt. Dampf said. Two inquests will be held today, probably jointly. He explained that Cash died in New Madrid County at the scene of the wreck, while Smith died in Stoddard County enroute to the hospital, thus necessitating an inquest in both counties. The joint inquest was scheduled for Sikeston he concluded.
Friends of the victims said this morning that Cash and Smith were enroute to Detroit to pick up cars which Cash planned to purchase for resale at Nettleton Auto Sales Co., which he operates.
The two girls, friends of the Cash family were enroute to Chicago to work, friends stated. They worked in Chicago last summer, but came home to escape the severe winter and were returning to their jobs, it was reported.
Cash was a well known used car dealer. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. O. H. Cash. He graduated from Hoxie High School and attended Arkansas State College. He opened the used car lot about three years ago and the business had expanded rapidly. In addition to his parents and his wife he is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Christine Smalley and Mrs. Ora Lee Sayre, both of Oakland, Calif. Gregg Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements, which are incomplete.
Smith worked with his father in the termite control business after school hours. He was a popular student at the Jonesboro High and ex-president of the Kisks Club, member of the TKO fraternity, DeMolay and Cap
He was a member of the New Hope Baptist Church.
Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Dewey Smith and two sisters, Ida Mae Smith and Yulda Smith.
Funeral rites will be held at the Walnut Street Baptist Church. Tentative date has been set as Thursday; Rev. Reese Howard will conduct services, assisted by Rev. Harold Ray. Gregg Funeral Home is in charge. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the TKO fraternity.
Miss Jett graduated from Nettleton High School in 1950; She was the daughter of Mrs. Jessie B. Jett, supervisor of Nettleton school lunchroom. She has one sister, Ada Dee Jett and several brothers including Jay Lee Jett, in Korea; Floyd Jett in the Navy; and Henry Jett, who lives in California. No funeral arrangements have been made.
Miss Martin is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. York Martin. She also graduated at Nettleton High in 1950.
Two Missouri troopers assigned with the investigation. They were Trooper E. C. Wright and Trooper Eugene Harris. All three of the investigating officers are stationed at Sikeston.


Submitted by Everett Wilson