“A 19-year-old Riggs (Ky.) U.S. Air Force man, home on furlough, was injured fatally about 12:30 a.m. today in a traffic mishap on Route 23 at the foot of Stoner Hill in West Fullerton.”
“Paul Edward Burgess, Airman 3C, died in Portsmouth General Hospital at 12:45 a.m. shortly after arrival. He was a son of Luther and Valerie Setser Burgess of Riggs.”
“Burdette Dailey, 17, son of Mrs. Osie Ann Patton of King’s Addition, Fullerton, whose condition was listed as critical at noon at Portsmouth General Hospital.”
“He remained unconscious with a possible skull fracture. He also received lacerations of the scalp, face, neck and left hand.”
“Robert Lawson, 17, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lawson1 of Frost, Ky., who received lacerations of the scalp and a cut above the left eye. He regained consciousness and his condition reportedly is improving at General Hospital.”
“Donald Adkins, 19, son of Mrs. Olive Adkins of South Shore, whose condition also was reported fair at General Hospital. He received multiple lacerations, contusions and abrasions of the head, nose and scalp.”
Taken To Hospital
“All four youths were taken to the hospital in Luther Plummer’s ambulance from Fullerton. They suffered shock in the crash.”
“The Burgess boy suffered fractures of the skull and internal injuries. Both legs were fractured above the knees.”
“The foursome had attended a football game Friday night at Russell, and was en route to Portsmouth in a pickup truck at the time of the accident.”
“The truck, driven by Paul Burgess, left Route 23 on the right side, brushed a large sign, then swerved across the highway and struck a utility pole on the left.”
“The impact hurled all four boys from the cab of the truck.”
Ready To Go Overseas
“Airman Burgess, whose father is employed at Dam 30 at Riggs, had left Parks Air Force Base, Calif., and was spending a furlough at home before reporting to Camp Kilmer, N.J., for overseas assignment.”
“He was to have reported for duty next Wednesday and expected to be sent to Germany. He had attended McKell High School before entering the service.”
“Burdette Dailey and Robert Lawson are students at McKell and Donald Adkins was graduated there last spring.”
“The Burgess boy is survived by his parents and these brothers and sisters: Mrs. Betty Ison, Hillsboro, O.; Mrs. Wanda Hickman, South Shore; Mrs. Peggy Darnell, Riggs, and William, Donald and Douglas, at home.”
“The body is at Roberson Funeral Home.”
“Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday at Brick Union Church at Grays Branch, with burial in the church cemetery.”2
Headstone of Airman Paul Edward Burgess
- Beulah B. Fannin Lawson
- Riggs airman auto fatality: Teen-age trio also hurt at Fullerton. (1952, October 4). Portsmouth Times, pp. 1 & 18.
