Letterman Wreck
Odessa American, on Friday July 29, 1960
The wreck happened on W. University and 1936. The article is rather graphic. It says
"The crash occurred at 2:05 p.m. killing six outright. Three children died screaming in the wreckage as frantic rescuers tried unsuccessfully to free them".
There was only one survivor - the 18 month old daughter of the other mother that was in the car. They were hit by a BJ Service, Inc. cement pump truck. The 1957 car was driven by Mrs. Peggy Roberts (the other mother). Her daughter Marcilyn, 6 was also killed. The 18 month old child was Connie Roberts. The car was broadsided and crushed beneath the cement truck. Both vehicles plunged into a six-foot ditch. The truck was loaded with 60,000 tons of cement.
"Mrs. Roberts, Mrs. Letterman, The surviving Roberts girl and Linda Letterman were thrown clear of the demolished automobile."
The six other children were under the twisted wreckage. It also says
"the cab and front tandem wheels of the truck passed completely over the car before they came to a stop 126 feet from the point of impact. The vehicles came to a rest with the car on its top pinned under the upright truck."
It says people that tried to rescue the children were forced to try through the trunk of the car.
"One of the girls was clear of the wreckage except for her legs when rescuers arrived at the scene. Her legs, however, were pinned between the car and truck. She died that way."
It also says that Mrs. Roberts had stopped at a stop sign, then pulled out in front of the truck. Also says the truck was going 60-70 miles per hour. It says that both fathers were out of town working. Mr. Roberts was in Iraan and Mr. Letterman was in McCamey. The Highway Patrol found them and took them to Odessa. The force of the crash ripped the car to pieces. The body of the car was torn away from the frame forward from the rear of the back seat. A relative said the two women and chilfen were going to a friends home on W. University to attend a Bible study class.