KOVACH, JR., Robert A.

Wickenburg (AZ) Sun Thursday, December 29, 1966, p 10 Trucker In Fatal Crash Hospitalized Alpha Skinner, 41-year-old truck driver of Yucaipa, Calif., was released Tuesday morning from Community Hospital where he had been hospitalized following a truck-automobile collision west of Salome early Monday morning which claimed the lives of a California family of four, father, mother and two young sons. Skinner's injuries consisted of head cuts and bruises. He was able to return to Yucaipa with his employer. Killed instantly in the accident were Robert A Kovach, Jr, 51; his wife Ann May, 40 and the two boys, 8 and 9. The highway patrol said the Kovach station wagon, headed west, skidded on the rain-slick pavement, crossed the center line and struck the semi-trailer being driven by Skinner. Both vehicles burst into flames. The fire raged for nearly 24 hours necessitating detouring the heavy Christmas traffic around the scene as late as 9 o'clock Tuesday morning. At that hour the truck was still too hot to be moved. The patrol said it had been loaded with eggs. Skinner's employer told hospital attendants his loss was $40,000, including the $30,000 semi and the $10,000 cargo.