Donald Arthur Zimmerman
Small Child is Fatally Injured
16 Month Old Child Falls Behind Backing Truck Wednesday, Wheels Run Over Head
Donald Arthur Zimmerman, aged one year and 34 days was fatally injured this morning at about 9:50 when he fell and was run over by a truck backing out of a garage neat the Sinclair Service Station in east Lusk.
The truck was driven by Ervin "Spider" Beard who operates the station. He was preparing to make a trip with the bulk truck and as he was backing from the garage he had George Johnston watch behind the truck since he was unable to see as he backed up. Mr. Johnston was standing on the truck and had seen that older children were clear, just as the truck came out of the garage the small boy ran around the corner into the path of the wheels, stumbling and falling, the accident happening so quickly that Beard was unable to stop the truck or Mr. Johnston gave him warning, the wheel passing over the tot's head.
He was rushed to the Lusk hospital immediately, but passed away about the time the hospital was reached. Death was due to concussions, the heavy truck crushing his head.
Donald was born in Lusk, August 18, 1937, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charley H. Zimmerman. He is the youngest child of the family, all of whom survive together with his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Margaret Howell of Lusk as well as several other relatives. The little youngster was quite a large boy for his age and played about the yard with older children, but not realizing the danger made it a hard task to keep a careful watch over him. With the older children playing about the garage, Donald had missed his little friends and ran to see where they were, dashing around the corner of the garage and and falling in front of the truck.
Funeral arrangements are in charge of the Peet Mortuary and will be held on Friday afternoon of this week at the chapel.