John Smith, 18, Saline Sailor, Killed In Crash

JOHN SMITH, 18, SALINE SAILOR, KILLED IN CRASH

Was To Have Reported At Great Lakes Today As Leave Ended

SALINE—John B. Smith, seaman, first class, 18, son of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Smith of 217 E. Henry St., was killed when the automobile he was driving swerved off the Saline-Milan Rd. near Maple Rd. about six o’clock last night.

Coroner E. C. Ganzhorn said smith was thrown from the car and suffered fractures of the neck and skull and internal injuries. Death was believed to have occurred instantly.

Smith was driving south on the Saline-Milan Rd. when, according to Deputy Sheriffs Erwin Keebler and Harold King who investigated, the steering knuckle evidently came off and he lost control of the automobile. The car swerved off the road and hit a large tree. The deputies reported that the car was a “total wreck.”

Enlisted On V-E Day

The youth was home on leave from Great Lakes, Ill., and was to have reported back today. He enlisted in the Navy on V-E day while a junior in Saline High school. He completed boot training at Memphis, Tenn., attended an aviation machinist mates’ course at the Naval Air Technical Training Center, Norman, Okla., and had just concluded storekeepers’ training at Great Lakes.

Smith was active in football, basketball and baseball in the Saline High school. He was a member of the Trinity Lutheran church and the Young People’s League and Choir. He was born Feb. 25, 1927, in Saline.

Surviving, besides the parents, is a sister, Doris, at home. Funeral services will be held at 2 o’clock Saturday afternoon at the residence and at 2:30 in the Trinity Lutheran church, Rev. H. L. Engle officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood cemetery, Saline. Friends may call at the home.