A spectacular three-car accident Saturday night (September 9, 1967) on Illinois 26, three-fourths of a mile north of Freeport, claimed the life of Mrs. Helen Strohacker, 55, of West Town Trailer Court, and injured seven others.

Mrs. Strohacker was a passenger in a car driven by her son, Robert Reed, 3, of West Town Trailer Court, a Freeport policeman. Reed's car, southbound on Illinois 26, was struck head-on by a northbound auto which had, seconds before, been struck from behind by a third auto, according to sheriff's deputies.

The car which struck Reed's auto was driven by Dorothy Capion, 412 N. West Ave. Mrs. Capion suffered multiple lacerations and abrasions and a fractured ankle. Her condition today at Freeport Memorial Hospital is listed as serious. A pasenger in Mrs. Capion's car, Gretchen Gage, 101 1/2 E. Stephenson St. suffered scalp and back injuries. She is listed in satisfactory condition today.

Three other passengers in Reed's care, in addition to Mrs. Strohacker, were his wife, Dorothy, his brother, James, 33 of 1423 S. Plum Ave., and Jame's wife, Anita. Dorothy Reed received chin lacerations and a fractured left arm and ankle. Anita Reed suffered a fractured pelvis. Both women were reported satisfactory today. James Reed was treated for minor injuries and dismissed from Freeport Memorial.

Mike Jones 17 of Monroe, the driver of the northbound car which reportedly struck Mrs. Capions auto from behind, was reported in satisfactory condition suffering from a forehead injury and knee pains.

The accident occurred shortly before 10 p.m. Saturday. Mrs.. Capion's car, when struck from behind burst into flames, crossed into the southbound lane and struck the Reed car, according to police. The Freeport Fire Department was called to extinguish the blaze to Mrs. Capion's car.

A city ambulance and a sheriff's patrol car rushed the injured to Freeport Memorial where Mrs. Strohacker was pronounced dead on arrival. Mrs. Strohacker was born Sept. 7, 1912 in Chapman KS, daughter ofJesse L. and Bertha (Flack) Stewart.
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Contributed by Jessy Moyer - from the papers of her Grandparents William and Kathryn (Rumelhagen) Nichols