Odessa, TX Auto Wreck, May 1958

ON ELEVENTH BIRTHDAY---

Young Odessa Boy Killed Careening Car Hurts Girl, 10.

James Larry Streety of Odessa was killed Saturday afternoon just hours before he was to have been honoree at his 11th birthday party, and his 10-year-old playmate was seriously injured in a freak traffic accident.

An automobile went out of control, careened into James' front yard at 1523 North Lincoln and struck the two children as they sat on the front porch where James was buckling a pair of roller skates on the feet of Andrea Chancey, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chancey, 1501 North Lincoln.

Police said James was killed instantly, suffering a fractured skull, fractured left thigh, multiple fractured ribs and a fractured right hip. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Streety.

Andrea, Saturday night remained in fair condition at Medical Center Hospital where she was undergoing treatment for a fractured pelvis and multiple contusions and abrasions of the body.

Police said driver of the car was Jerrie Lea White, 16, 825 East 14th. Miss White was treated at Medical Center Hospital for lacerations and released. Her car overturned and was heavily damaged.

Patrolman Joe Pierce, investigator, said Miss White told him she was driving west on 16th Street and swerved to miss a car going south on Lincoln. She said she lost control of the car.

Pierce said the car rolled about 50 feet across the front yard, struck the corner of the porch, bounced into the air, struck a window on the house, overturned and knocked over a 20-foot fir tree, damaged to the Streety home were estimated at $800.

The tree fell across the body of the young boy, who was knocked several feet off the porch.

The accident occurred at 4:40 p. m. and the boy was dead on arrival at Medical Center Hospital. His death marked the first traffic fatality of the year for Odessa.

Officer Pierce said the driver of the car Miss White swerved to miss was Frank Ackermann, 1116 Smith. The officer added that Miss White's car swerved in front of the car driven by Ackermann. He said there were no skid marks at the intersection.

A birthday party for James had been planned later in the afternoon at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Letterman, 6819 Kermit Avenue.

James was a fifth grade student at San Jacinto Elementary School here. He was born May 24, 1947, at Roscoe, Tex.

The Streetys have lived in Odessa almost two years. They moved here from Seminole. James' father, a welding contractor, was working in Cuba, N. M. at the time of his son's death.

James is survived by his parents, two brothers, Douglas, 8, and Doyce Wayne, 1; and one sister, Dianne, 6.

Services were pending Saturday night at Head-Koontz Funeral Home.

The Odessa American, Odessa, TX 25 May 1958
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Transcribed by Linda Horton. Thank you, Linda!