NICOLA, Ray J.
Three men were instantly killed - their bodies horribly mangled - and two others seriously injured at 1:30 o'clock Wednesday afternoon in a head-on collision on Route 51, just north of Waltersburg, between a loaded beer truck and another heavily laden with pit posts. The dead: William M. Minehart, 35, of near Burgess Field, driver of the Beer truck. Floyd W. Shaffer, 28, Hazelton, W. Va., driver of the lumber truck. Ray J. Nicola, 23 Hazelton, W. Va., passenger on the lumber truck. The injured: Charles Uphold, 30, West Main street, both hands badly lacerated, suffering body bruises when thrown from the beer truck in which he was a passenger; condition late last night in Uniontown Hospital was reported as not serious, but injuries painful. Charles Anderson, also of East Main street, suffering from cuts and bruises in Uniontown Hospital where he was admitted for treatment. Both were passengers in the beer truck. Shaffer and Nicola were literally decapitated when the heavy load of lumber and truck motor crushed them; Minehart's body was also badly crushed. The beer truck owned by Joseph Vecchio, was traveling South toward Uniontown. It was thrown to one side of the road by the impact and rested in the ditch. Minehart's body was removed without difficulty. Shaffer and Nicola's bodies were wedged tightly between the motor and the load in the truck cabin. It was not until rescuers and workmen lifted the mangled mass of wreckage that the bodies of the two men were disclosed. Among the first arrivals on the scene were Dr. and Mrs. F. R. White of Bruceton Mills, acquaintances of Shaffer and Nicola. It was they who identified the mangled bodies. With hundreds of broken beer bottles scattered along the road, together with a profusion of pit posts, traffic on the highway was temporarily blocked. Scores of motorists dashed to the scene as soon as the news reached the city adding to the difficulties of Lieut. Baer, Sgt. Augustine, Corp. Jones and Patrolman Toma of the State Motor Patrol, who were directing traffic and investigating the tragedy. Minehart had obtained a truck load of beer in Pittsburgh and was returning with the load to Uniontown. The lumber truck was heading in the direction of Perryopolis and apparently had some of the mines in the lower end of the county as a destination. The bodies were removed to the J. Harry Johnston & Sons funeral establishment, that of Minehart being later removed to the establishment of C. B. Dearth at New Salem. William M. Minehart was aged 33 years and nine days, having been born August 26, 1902. He is survived by his widow, Stella Smith Minehart; four children, Frederick, Rose Emma, Lillian Mae and William M. Jr., all at home; his father, Fred Minehart, Akron, O.; a brother, Irvin Minehart, Fontebale; and five sisters, Mrs. Etta Slathers, Dearth; Mrs. Katherine Ashford, Ann Arbor, Mich; Mrs. Nellie Stroup, Akron, O.; Mrs. Ruth Tracano, Denbo Heights, and Mrs. Lillian Stustie, Montour Noll 10. His mother preceded him in death 13 years. Floyd Shaffer is survived by his widow, Goldie Friend Shaffer, and three children: Willard, Margaret and Robert Shaffer, all at home; his mother, Mrs. Rebecca Shaffer, Brandonville, W. Va.; and four brothers: Chester R. Shaffer, Carlisle street, Uniontown; James A., Brandonville; Willie C., Hazelton; and Carlos E. Shaffer, Brandonville. Ray J. Nicola was single and is survived by his parents Mr. and Mrs. Judson Nicola of Hazelton, W. Va. Funeral arrangements for all three victims will be made later. *** Floyd Shaffer's wife is Goldie Mae Friend, daughter of Orval C. Friend and Carrie M. Nicola.
The Morning Herald; Uniontown, Pennsylvania; Sept. 5, 1935; pages 1&4
Courtesy of Wendy Mammoliti
Posted 2013-07-10