New paper artical on Wm Pockrant accident, Bay City, Bay County, Michigan



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Bay City Times
May 26, 1940
Front Page

....Hurt As Auto, Truck Collide

William H POCKRANDT, of Bay City, One of the Victims

        Two men were killed and a woman critically injured late Saturday
afternoon in a head-on collision between a truck and an automobile on
the River Road only 75 feet north of the Bay-Saginaw county line.

The dead:
        William H POCKRANDT, 27, of 202 Marquette avenue and Harry MAXWELL, 32,
of Saginaw.
        The injured woman is Miss Elizabeth PIWARSKI, 24, of Saginaw, a
passenger in POCKRANDT's car. At Mercy Hospital last her condition was
described as "only fair". She is suffering from a possible fractured
skull, severe contusions about her hips, hands, arms and face, and is
semi-conscious.
        
Fourth Person Injured
        A fourth person escaped with a minor facial laceration. He is Norman
SMITH, also of Saginaw, who was struck by a flying piece of glass when a
side from the truck, knocked off by the impact of the terrific
collision, smashed into his automobile.
        SMITH was treated at Mercy Hospital and then discharged. POCKRANDT,
according to Coroner, Raphael D STAPISH, was killed instantly. MAXWELL
died en route to Mercy Hospital in a Sheriff's department ambulance.
        State Police and Sheriff's officers who investigated said that
apparently POCKRANDT, driving north at a high rate of speed, lost
control of his machine, which careened over the center line and smashed
into MAXWELL's pickup truck, heading south.
        Chief Deputy Sheriff Charles HEGENAUER, quoted SMITH as stating that as
he was proceeding south at about 35 mph, he saw POCKRANDT's car
approaching the curve on which the accident occurred.

Auto A Total Wreck
        "I could see that there was going to be a smashup", SMITH was quoted by
HEGENAUER as having said, "because MAXWELL's truck was passing me at the
time. I got off as far as I could on the road shoulder. In fact, my car
was smashing down those guide lights along the highway. Then there was a
crash and I was struck in the face by a piece of glass just after the
car smashed into the truck (MAXWELL's truck, going south)."
        State Trooper Melvin MCFALL said that POCKRANDT's car traveled 187
paces past the point of collision, and was a total wreck. Apparently, a
side of the truck was flung into the side of SMITH's car, causing the
broken glass and SMITH's facial cut.
        STAPISH said POCKRANDT's death was caused by a fractured skull,
fractured jaw, a severed left arm and shock. MAXWELL died of a punctured
left lung, three fractured ribs and internal hemorrhage, and

See Accident, page 2

Bay City Times
May 27, 1940

POCKRANDT Funeral Set For Tuesday

        Funeral arrangements were completed today for William POCKRANDT, 27,
one of two victims of a fatal River Road automobile-truck crash Saturday
afternoon.
        Meanwhile, Miss Eleanor PIWARSKI, 24, of Saginaw, POCKRANDT's
companion, who escaped death in the accident, was reported recovering
rapidly at Mercy Hospital today. She was believed critically injured at
admission to the hospital but rallied Sunday and her condition is good
today.
        Harry MAXWELL, 32, of Saginaw was the other victim.
        Services for POCKRANDT will be held Tuesday at 8:30am at his parent's
residence, 202 Marquette avenue, and at 9am at St Mary's church. The Rev
Fr Carl CARHILL will officiate and burial will be in Calvary cemetery,
Kawkawlin.
        The crash victim was born in Monitor township, Nov 13, 1912 and had
lived in Bay City nearly throughout his life. He was employed as a
painter at the Garber Buick Co. at Saginaw.
        Surviving are his parents, Mr and Mrs Julius POCKRANDT, with whom he
lived, and six brothers; Otto, of Williams township; Frank, of State
Park Drive; Ferdinand, Julius and Henry of Saginaw and Frederick of Bay
City.
        He was a member of St Mary's church.
        Services for MAXWELL will be held at 8:30am Tuesday at the Diesler
chapel, Saginaw, and at 9 o'clock at St Joseph's church, Saginaw. Burial
will be at Mt Olivet cemetery.
        Mr MAXWELL is the son of Mr and Mrs Frank MAXWELL of 2029 Woodside
avenue, Bay City. He leaves, besides his parents, the widow, Virginia, a
daughter, Barbara Lee, a brother, Frank, of Bay City, and a niece, Miss
Betty MCLAUGHLIN of Bay City.