Ypsilanti's Senior Fireman Injured

Ypsilanti’s Senior Fireman Injured

YPSILANTI—The senior member of the Ypsilanti Fire Department was hospitalized late yesterday afternoon after suffering a possible recurrence in a minor traffic accident of a severe neck injury which confined him to a hospital for a long period about two years ago.

Capt. Russell M. Forsyth, 57, of 1007 Washtenaw Ave. was admitted to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor yesterday about five hours after his car was rammed by a neighbor’s auto.

Forsyth, the senior member of the Fire Department with nearly 34 years of service as a city firemen, suffered a “whiplash” neck injury in the accident, the hospital reported today.

The veteran fireman was hospitalized and underwent back and neck surgery early in 1958. He later returned to his duties as the third officer in command of the department.

City police said Forsyth, traveling west on Washtenaw a block east of his home, had stopped for a left-turning vehicle when his car was hit from the rear by an auto operated by Ronald E. Fuller, 54, of 972 Washtenaw, owner of the Fuller Drug Co. store at 406 W. Michigan Ave.