Fritts Stephan J 11-20-67
Automobile Accident

Stephen Jackson Fritts, 19, of 265 Jefferson Ave., was killed in an auto accident just outside of Johnson City Friday at 3:55 p.m.
Joseph Michael Allen 20 of 123 W. Revere Cr., driver of the car, was critically injured.  Both young men were students at East Tennessee State University.

According to the Highway Patrol, who investigated the accident, the car owned by Allen, apparently went out of control about two miles west of Johnson City on State Highway 67, sideswiped a power pole and went through a fence before striking a tree.
The Fritts youth was killed instantly.  Allen is in a Johnson City hospital in a semi-coma, according to a member of his family.  He is in the intensive care unit of the hospital.  Both his parents Mr. and Mrs. Claude Allen, are with him.
Stephen was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Fritts.  He is also survived by a sister Mrs. Sandra Taylor, 111 Gorden Rd., and a brother, Mike, at home.
Steve graduated from Oak Ridge High School in 1966 attended ETSU for part of the last year and had returned this fall to complete his freshman year.  While at ORHS, he was a member of a social club.
Steve shared and apartment in Johnson City with three other Oak Ridge students-Joe Allen, Johnny Fellers and David Teague.  According to Steve's father, the accident happened between the boys' apartment and the school campus.  Mr. Fritts said he received a birthday card on Saturday from his son, postmarked a short time before the accident.  He believes the boys were on their way back to the apartment after mailing the card at the time of the accident.
Funeral services were to be held today at Weatherford Funeral Chapel, with the Rev. W C. Summar.  Burial Monday will be at Oak Ridge Memorial Gardens.
Posted By: NS Administrator - 05-11-2016
Views: 1306