Surnames: Gummerson, Carlson, Haire, Vetterkund, Volrath, Hensen

----Source: Abbotsford Tribune (Abbotsford, Clark County, Wis.) 09/06/1934

Gummerson, Matt (? - 2 Sept. 1934)

Milan Man Killed in Unusual Accident Sunday Morning

Matt Gummerson of Withee was instantly killed, and Arthur Carlson of Owen is in a hospital in a critical condition as the result of an unusual accident in the early hours of Sunday morning when four vehicles piled up three miles west of Withee.

Gummerson was killed when he was caught between the rear end of a parked truck and Carlson’s automobile, which crashed into the truck from the rear.

According to the report of Traffic Officer W. R. Haire, the following is the report of the tragic mishap:

Arthur Vetterkind of Withee was going west on Highway 29 about 2:30 a.m. Sunday morning when he was suddenly hit from the rear by George Volrath, who claimed to have been driving about 35 miles per hour.

Mr. Volrath stated that he did not observe any tail light ahead of him until too late to avoid the crash. Both cars came to a standstill with the Vetterkind car straddling the black center line and the Volrath car directly behind.

Norval Hensen, Sheboygan, driver of an Overnight Express truck, approached from the west, observed the accident and immediately stopped to render assistance if necessary.

After he stopped his first thought was to place flares on the highway according to the law. This was immediately done, two red fuses and three KK flares being ignited and place in their proper places on the highway.

Arthur Carlson of Owen, approaching from the west, apparently did not observe the burning flares and truck ahead, which was parked as far off the highway as possible, and crashed into the rear of the truck.

Matt Gummerson of Withee, a bystander who had stopped to observe the accident, had walked over to the rear of the truck and was standing squarely back of it as Mr. Carlson drove his car into the rear of the truck, killing him instantly.

It was first believed that Mr. Carlson also had been killed, but he was removed to a hospital at Chippewa Falls where he is resting with a crushed chest. Unless pneumonia or other complications arise, doctors expected Carlson to survive. Clifford Downing of Owen, who was a passenger with Carlson, escaped with minor cuts and bruises.