The Republican

Gormania Man Killed In 3-Car Crash Late Friday

Floyd Leon Getz, 54, of Gormania, W. Va., was killed instantly late Friday night, March 3, in a three-vehicle collision on U. S. route 50, a mile west of Mt. Storm near the Stoney River bridge.

Authorities report Getz suffered multiple fractures as he was practically crushed to death. His injuries included fractures of the skull, chest, face and arms. Police were compelled to use cutting torches before they could free Getz' body from the wreckage.

Cpl. G. H. Phillips, of the Grant county detachment, West Virginia state police, said Getz and Harold C. Gillispie, 21, also of Gormania were heading west on route 50.

Gillispie slowed down preparatory to making a left turn onto the Bismarck road, but before he started to make the turn his car was struck from the rear by the Getz automobile.

The impact forced the Gillispie car to the right side of the highway where it overturned in a ditch. Gillispie escaped injury.

The Getz car careened across the center of the highway and into the path of a tractor-trailer, operated by Claude Edward Pence, Linville, Va. Pence was admitted to Garrett County Memorial hospital at Oakland where attaches reported he suffered three broken ribs on the left side of his body and severe facial lacerations.

Retired Coal Miner

Born in Grant county, Getz was a son of Martin L. Getz, of Pinto, and the late Lucy Lyons Getz. He was a coal miner but retired four years ago due to ill health.

Besides his father, he is survived by his widow, Irene White Getz; his stepmother, Mrs. Ollie Getz; a daughter, Mrs. Nadine Idleman, Mt. Storm; four sons, Peter, Harold, Russell and Steven Getz, all at home; two half sisters, Mrs. Ruth Heavner, Cresaptown; and Mrs. J. B. Heavner, of Pinto, and one grandchild.

Funeral services were conducted Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the Bayard Ev. United Brethren Church, with the Rev. Dale Jones, pastor of Mt. Storm Presbyterian church, officiating. Interment was in the Bayard cemetery.