18 April 1975: A well-known Lebanon man died following a three-car accident late yesterday afternoon on Route 72, a mile and a half south of the city. Paul A. Behney, 64, 704 S. 14th St., was pronounced dead at the Good Samaritan Hospital after the accident, according to Dr. A.H. Heisey, county coroner. Behney was a passenger in a car driven by his wife, Margaret D., 65. An autopsy was performed this morning to determine the cause of death. Results were not yet available late this morning. Behney was the second traffic fatality in the county this year. Mrs. Behney was also taken to the hospital and treated for a cut and bruise of the leg, and discharged. State Trooper Daniel Zubritski, who investigated the accident, reported that Harvey J. Ohmacht, 20, 712 S. Second Ave., and John D. Lerch, 29, 38 Jayann Drive, declined medical assistance for minor injuries. Both were occupants of a pickup truck involved in the accident. Zubritski said the accident is still under investigation. The Behney vehicle, southbound on Route 72, apparently went out of control when it pulled onto the berm in an attempt to avoid a possible collision with a passing northbound car. The second of four northbound vehicles, according to Zubritski, had pulled into the southbound lane to pass the first vehicle, when the Behney car began to pull off the road. Zubritski reported that Behney's car swerved back onto tie road and struck the rear right side of the third car driven by John P. Burke, 43, Alameda, Calif. The passing car, reportedly driven by a female juvenile, had pulled back into the northbound lane. Zubritski pointed out that the stretch of road was a passing zone. After impact with Burke's car, the Behney vehicle crashed almost head-on with the pickup truck driven by Ohmacht. Zubritski reported that the first two northbound vehicles were not hit. The Behney and Ohmacht vehicles came to a stop in the middle of Route 72, just north of Zinn's Mill Road, blocking traffic for approximately two hours. Zubritski estimated $3,000 damage to the Behney's car, and $450 damage to Onmacht's pickup truck. Both were considered demolished. Burke's car received approximately $400 damage. Zubritski was assisted in his investigation at the scene by Troopers Douglas Jackson and Oskar Stabs. The investigation will determine the cause of the accident, and where the fault lies. Zubritski said the name of the juvenile girl would be withheld pending results of the investigation. Behney, who retired in late January, 1973, was superintendent of No. 1 Factory Division at the local Bethlehem Steel plant. Known for his involvement in community affairs, Behney had served as school director for the city of Lebanon from 1955 through 1961. He was a member of the Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce; Lebanon Rotary Club, and served as a solicitor in the Heart Association and Community Chest campaigns. He was affiliated with Mt. Lebanon Lodge No. 226, F and AM, and was a past grand tall cedar of the local Tall Cedars. He was also a member of the Industrial Management Council, Lincoln Republican Club, and the Lebanon Country Club. Behney had graduated from the Mining and Mechanical Institute, Freeland, Pa., and Lehigh University, where he earned a B.S. degree in engineering physics. In addition to his wife, the former Margaret Ditzler, Behney is survived by a daughter, Letty Jane Schantz, Fort Washington, Pa., and a granddaughter, Barbara Ann. He is also survived by two sisters, Mrs. Eva Hickman, Cedarville, N.J., and Mrs. Susan Moore, Lebanon, and a brother, Dr. J. Bruce Behney, Dayton, Ohio. [Lebanon Daily News]