BLAIR, Jean

Wickenburg (AZ) Sun Friday, March 17, 1950, p 1 & 8 Coroner's Jury Says Negligence Caused Car Crash Although a coroner's jury here Tuesday afternoon turned in a verdict that two women killed on Highways 60-70-89 five miles southeast of Wickenburg early Friday morning "came to their deaths by reason of negligence on the part of George Ray, driver of the southeast bound 1950 Buick, in not observing due caution in passing another vehicle," Assistant County Attorney Joe Walton of Phx told The SUN Wednesday that he was doubtful if criminal action would be taken against Mr. Ray. Mr. Walton said that he had not had time to examine photographs taken shortly after the accident which, it is alleged, show the skid tracks of the two automobiles involved in the accident. He also expressed the opinion that after examining what remains of the skid tracks Wednesday afternoon, he is of the opnion that the car in which the dead women were riding was not struck at the exact point shown on a map of the accident scene submitted in testimony by Highway Patrolman Hobart Smith. In the meantime, Mr. Ray, a resident of Platte City, Mo., is confined to Community Hospital with a broken leg, broken knee cap and other injuries while his wife's condition continues serious. She is also in the local hospital suffering internal injuries, including a number of broken ribs. The Rays, with Mr. Ray at the wheel, were riding in a 1950 model Buick, owned by H. A. Redman, Buick dealer at Odessa, Tex. Mr. and Mrs. Redman suffered only minor injuries for which they were treated at the hospital here. The two dead women, identified as Mrs. May L Willat, age 64, and Jean Blair, age 42, both of Santa Monica, Calif., met instant death in the collision which occurred exactly 5.4 miles southeast of town about 8:30 Friday morning. They were driving toward Wickenburg, while the other car was headed for Phx. Both women were thrown from the car and their skulls crushed. The motor of their car was thrown approximately 80 feet into the borrow pit on the opposite side of the road from where their car eventually stopped. Joe Terry of Wickenburg testified before the coroner's inquest that the car driven by Ray was attempting to pass his truck when the two cars met. He managed to get his truck, loaded with five new cars, stopped and without leaving the highway immediately after the accident. Someone at the scene, not as yet identified, put in a call to Deputy Town Marshall Hugh Smith who located Patrolman Smith just west of town. The latter sped to the scene and took charge. Justice of the Peace R. L. Westall, acting coroner, arrived soon thereafter and assembled a 6-man coroner's jury which viewed the two bodies and served at the inquest on Tuesday. They were Hank Brickner, Robert (Shorty) Hartman, Sabin Brown, Fred Babcock, Bruce Martin and John McCarroll. The accident blocked the highway for an hour or so and attracted a large crowd. The bodies of the two dead women were removed to the Wickenburg Chapel and taken to Phx Wednesday for cremation.