Wallace R. Stanz

Jun 10, 1920 - Apr 9, 1947

Two Vehicles Crash On Highway West Of Niles

Three persons were killed in a truck-automobile accident at 7:45 p. m. Wednesday eight miles west of Niles near Buchanan, Mich., on U.'S. highway No. 112. dead: Wallace R. Stanz, aged 26, of 406 West Marion street, South Bend, driver of the truck owned by Stanz Cheese *company, of South Bend.

and a salesman riding in the Stanz truck. The accident occurred whena  car, being driven west on the highway, ran off the road to the right and hit a guard cable. The car then shot across the highway to the left into the path of the Stanz truck. The impact occurred with such force that the engine in the car was knocked out and the automobile was wound around the hood of the truck, making it impossible to open the doors on the cab of the truck. After the impact the truck, with the automobile on its hood, crossed the highway to its left before coming to a stop.

Fire Follows Crash.

A fire started at the time of the crash but it was extinguished by the Buchanan fire department before the bodies of the victims were burned.

The body from the car was thrown from his automobile to the pavement. The bodies of the other two victims remained in the truck. The victims were moved to the Swem mortuary in Buchanan. The accident occurred near the Arthur Reed residence and was witnessed by Mr. Reed and his sister, Lois. Michigan state police took a sample of car driver's blood which will be analyzed to determine whether it contained alcohol. Coroner William Pifer, of Niles, was called to the scene of the accident.

He conducted an investigation of the crash but no inquest is expected.

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Born in Chicago. Mr. Stanz was born in Chicago June 10, 1920, and came here at the age of three years. He was graduated from Central High school in 1938 and from Northwestern university, Evanston, Ill., in 1942.

He served in the European theater of war as a first sergeant in the chemical warfare service.

In Cave Springs, Ga., Sept. 11, 1943, he married Martha Perry, who survives. Other survivors are the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Emil W. Stanz, South Bend; a daughter, Victoria Jean, at home; and four sisters, Mrs. Horace B. Clarke, Crown Point, Ind.; Misses Virginia, Shirley and Barbara Stanz, all of South Bend.

Friends may call in the Welsheimer funeral home until funeral services there at 2:30 p. m. Saturday. Charles Hahn, Christian Science reader, will officiate. Cremation services will be conducted in the Mt. Hope cemetery, Chicago.

Mr. Stanz was a member of the First Church of Christ, Scientist; the St. Joseph lodge No. 45, F.&A.M., and Phi Kappa Sigma Alumni association.