Obituary of Joseph Arnold White ~ 1939
Source: Wallace Enterprise Apr 20 1939
Bicycle Rider Dies Instantly In Truck Crash
Joseph White, 13 Years Old, Killed Near Here When He Drove His Bicycle Into
Front Of A Truck Driven By Joe Bland Of Wallace; Coroner Exonerates Bland
Of Any Blame
Accident Occurred On Tuesday Morning
Eye Witness Says Accident Was Entirely Unavoidable
Joseph White, a 13-year-old white child, was almost instantly killed
Tuesday morning when his bicycle was struck by a panel delivery truck
driven by Joe Bland, well-known Wallace youth, about 4 miles from Wallace
on the Chinquapin-Wallace road.
The child, it was said, attempted to pass a highway truck with his bicycle
and smashed into the left front fender of the delivery truck. He died
before medical aid could be summoned.
Coroner Ralph Jones, who was called to the scene shortly after the accident
occurred, ruled that an inquest was not necessary after witnesses had told
him that the accident was entirely unavoidable.
Charlie Ritch, a farmer who lived nearby and who was at work in his fields
near the highway, was the only eye-witness to testify. He said that he saw
the White child trailing a heavy highway truck riding his bicycle. He said
that he saw the delivery truck coming, meeting the highway truck in front
of him. He smashed into the front of Bland's truck before Bland could
either stop or get out of the way.
Doctors described the child as badly broken and bruised. His bike was
demolished.
Funeral services were held from the home of the child's grandparents
Wednesday afternoon. Interment followed in the family cemetery.
The child is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Dewey White, and two
sisters and one brother.
Back to Duplin Obituaries Index
Back to Duplin County Death Certificates
Return to Duplin County Page