WRIGHT, Julia (Judy)

The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ October 19, 1962, Judy Wright Dead, Six Others Are Injured In Tragic Accident Tragedy struck this community at 11:20 p.m. Monday when one teenage was killed and six others seriously injured in an automobile accident 12.3 miles west of town on Highway 60-70. Julia (Judy) Wright, who would have been 18 years old tomorrow (Saturday), daughter of Mr & Mrs William Wright of the Sky Ranch Apartments, died en route to Community Hospital. Ray Silva, 17-year-old High School senior from Aguila was critically injured. His left leg was severely injured and at noon Wednesday he was taken by ambulance to St. Joseph’s Hospital at Phoenix so that he might have the services of specialists. He is the son of Mr & Mrs John Silva of Aguila. Admitted to the hospital here were Abel Lopez, Jr., 19, son of Mr & Mrs Abel Lopez, Sr., of Aguila and Robert Kelly, 19 of Big Bear Lake, Calif., a former resident who came here to visit his step-father John Allen. His mother, Mrs Lucille Kelley of Big Bear, formerly lived here. Also admitted to the hospital were Tommy Ramirez, 17, Erlene Dixon 14, and Sharon Crissman, 15, all of Wickenburg. Ramirez is the son of Mrs Jennie Peterson. Miss Dixon is the daughter of Mr & Mrs Howard Dixon. Miss Crissman is the daughter of Mr & Mrs Vernon Crissman. Highway Patrolman B. C. Irwin, who investigated the accident, says that Ramirez, who was driving a 1950 Studebaker owned by William Wright, father of the dead girl, told him that they were traveling west when the four persons in the back seat started “jumping around.” Irwin says Ramirez told him that he turned to quiet them down at which time the car went off the highway on the right and struck a bridge abutment. The guard rail of the abutment went through the front of the car to the back of the front seat. Miss Wright was in the middle of the front seat, said Irwin, and Silva was on her right. In the back seat from left to right, he said were Miss Dixon, Miss Crissman, Lopez and Kelley. Irwin was told that the seven teenagers had attended the theatre earlier in the evening and then decided to go for a ride and take the two Aguila boys to their homes. The ambulances of Howard Coffinger here and Al Stoekig of Gladden responded to a call for assistance. The Stoekig ambulance made two trips into Wickenburg. Both Dr. Floyd Bralliar and Dr. Paul Kliewer were on hand at the hospital to give aid to the injured. Miss Wright was born October 20, 1944, in Clarkdale and attended school in Cottonwood and Sedona before moving to Wickenburg with her family in 1956. She graduated from High School here last June. While in school she was active in the Dramatic Club and was on the yearbook staff. She was employed by Wickenburg Pharmacy where she worked at the fountain. Miss Wright’s father is employed by Peter Kiewit Sons and he and Mrs Wright also own and operate the Sky Ranch Apartment on the Phoenix Highway. The father is a brother of Paul Wright of Wickenburg. Surviving, in addition to the parents, are two sisters, Jeanne and Elaine; one brother, Corbin; the paternal grandmother, Mrs. Reathey Wright of Cottonwood; and the maternal grandparents, Mr & Mrs Luther Ray of Ajo. Funeral services for Miss Wright were scheduled to be held at 2 p.m. Thursday of this week in the Wickenburg Chapel with the Rev. Robert Jenkins, Baptist minister, officiating. Burial will be in the Wickenburg Cemetery.