MCNEIL, Lewis J.

The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ February 28, 1958 Truck Accident Takes Life of California Man Lewis J. McNeil, 49, of Napa, Calif., died at Community Hospital at 3:02 a.m. Tuesday from injuries received in a traffic accident at 7:30 p.m. Monday approximately four miles west on Highway 60-70. According to W. B. Hackelroad of the Highway Patrol, McNeil was driving from California toward Phoenix in a pickup truck and, somewhere along the line, had picked up a hitchhiker, George Washington Word, 17, a Navy man whose parents live in San Fernando, Calif. Word was driving at the time of the accident. Patrolman Hackelroad says indications are that a left rear tire blew out causing the truck to go out of control and turn over completely. Word appeared before Justice of the Peace R. L. Westall Tuesday morning, pleaded guilt to a charge of not driving at a safe and prudent speed and was sentenced to 30 days in jail. When Word admitted he was AWOL from the Navy, the sentence was suspended and he was turned over to the custody of the Goodyear Naval Air Base.