Paul Edward Witt
PAUL WITT KILLED -- (Franklin Favorite -- June 10, 1971)
Paul Edward Witt, 58, Black Jack Road, was killed and his daughter, Melonie Ann, 11, injured yesterday when their pickup truck broke through a guard rail, overturned, and plunged down a 20-foot embankment at Drakes Creek bridge on Black Jack Road. Melonie Ann, who was hospitalized, is listed in fair condition today at Franklin-Simpson Memorial Hospital.
Witt, traveling south, was approaching the bridge when the accident occurred. The truck was coming down the steep hill on the north side of the bridge, when it failed to make a sharp curve, went through the guardrail and over the embankment. The vehicle came to rest on its top. Witt was pinned beneath the truck. Officers, firemen, and other volunteers lifted the vehicle to free Witt's body.
Two passers-by found Melonie Ann near the edge of the creek on the other side of the bridge and helped her to the road. She was taken immediately to the hospital. Sheriff John Belcher and Deputy J. E. Groves were the investigating officers. Witt became the fifth traffic fatality this year in Simpson County. The body was taken to Booker Funeral Home. Arrangements are incomplete. A native of Monroe County, he was the son of the late Jim Witt and Janie Durham Witt. Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Leona Witt; three sons, Phillip, Bruce, and Michael Witt, all of Franklin; one daughter, Melonie Ann, Franklin, and three brothers, Rodney, Bowling Green; Joe, Nashville; and Earl, Franklin.
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FUNERAL SERVICES FOR PAUL WITT, 58, HELD HERE FRIDAY (Franklin Favorite - 6/14/71) Funeral Services for Paul Edward Witt, 58, Black Jack Road, were held Friday at Booker Funeral Home. Burial was at the Black Jack Cemetery. Masonic rites were held at graveside. Witt was killed Wednesday when his pickup truck left the Black Jack Road at the Drakes Creek Bridge and plunged over an embankment. His 11-year-old daughter, Melonie Ann, a passenger in the truck was dismissed Thursday from the F-S Hospital.
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SIMPSON COUNTY MAN KILLED IN ACCIDENT -- (Bowling Green Paper -- 6/9/71)
A simpson County man was killed & his 11-year-old daughter injured Wednesday in a one-vehicle accident near Franklin. Pronounced dead at the accident site was Paul Everett Witt, 58, of Black Jack Road, Simpson County. He was a farmer. Injured in the accident and listed in fair condition today at a Simpson County Hospital was Melonie Witt, his daughter. According to State Police Trooper Larry Pitcock, who investigated the fatal accident along with Simpson County Sheriff John Belcher, the accident occurred nearly two miles north of Franklin on KY 1171 (Black Jack Road) at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday. Witt was the driver of a pickup truck, in which his daughter was a passenger, which failed to negotiate a curve and struck a guard railing. According to Simpson County officials, the curve is located at the bottom of a steep hill. After striking the guard rail, the vehicle plunged down a 20-foot embankment with the truck landing upside down. Witt was pinned beneath the truck when it landed on the bank of Drakes Creek. His daughter was found near the edge of the creek on the other side of the bridge. Officials theorized the child was either thrown from the vehicle before it stopped or crawled from the vehicle later. Witt was the 26th traffic fatality for the Bowling Green State Police District this year. At this time last year, the fatality count was 18 persons. The body is at Booker Funeral Home, Franklin. Funeral arrangements were incomplete this morning. In addition to his daughter, survivors include his widow, Mrs. Leona Witt, Simpson County; three sons, Phillip, Bruce and Michael Witt, all of Simpson County, and three brothers, Rodney Witt, Bowling Green; Joe Witt, Nashville, and Earl Witt, Simpson County.
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In Memory Of
Paul Everett Witt
Date of Birth
July 21, 1912
Date of Death
June 9, 1971
Place and Time of Services
Booker Funeral Home
Friday, June 11, 1971
2:00 P.M.
Clergymen
Rev. Marion Bothof
Rev. Bobby White
Place of Interment
Blackjack Cemetery
Organist
Judy Key
Pallbearers
Edward Weatherspoon -- James Burnley
Eugene Swindle -- Jimmy Swindle
Tommy Humphrey -- James Dorris
