Imperial Valley Press

Three persons, including two Imperial Valley residents, were killed and three suffered severe injuries in a traffic accident in the sandhills 20 miles west of Yuma early Wednesday.

Pearl Robberson, 19, El Centro, Johnny Montana, 26, Douglas, and Mrs. Wyly C. Grant, 38, Santa Ana, were killed. Charles E. Ritzenthaler, 24, and Odele Blythe, 21, Brawley couple enroute to Yuma to get married, and Wyly C. Grant, 38, Santa Ana, were injured.

The accident occurred when a car driven by Ritzenthaler and one driven by Grant crashed head-on near the center line on the highway near Gray's Wells. The injured were taken to a hospital in Yuma. Mrs. Grant died soon after reaching the hospital.

Miss Blythe and Ritzenthaler asked Miss Robberson and Montana to act as witnesses at their wedding. Mr. and Mrs. Grant were headed toward their home in Santa Ana after a vacation in Texas.

The Ritzenthaler car drove 48 inches to the left of the center line, Highway Patrolman Paul Brown said, and crashed into the Grant car. The cars were demolished. The speedometer on the Ritzenthaler car had stopped at a point marking the speed at 58 miles an hour, Brown said.

Miss Blythe's physician said she suffered a broken leg, broken jaw, fractured pelvis, and possibly a broken back. Ritzenthaler suffered a broken hip and broken leg. Grant, least seriously injured, suffered head injuries and bruises.

The three deaths brought the Imperial county traffic death total to 30 since Jan. 1.

Miss Robberson was a graduate of Central Union high school, formerly was employed at the Valley theatre, and at the time of her death worked in the office of the Pacific Freight Lines. Montana worked for an ice company in Brawley.