William Harold Ploughe, 40, of Frankfort Rt. 3, and James F. Hillman, 46, of Frankfort Rt. 6, were injured fatally at 5:45 o'clock Sunday evening (Feb 28, 1971) in an auto collision on Ind. 28 and the Pickard Road (County Road 1300 east), a half-mile west of the Clinton-Tipton county line. Their deaths were the fourth and fifth traffic fatalities in this county in 1971.

Three persons were injured in the grinding crash. They were: Barbara Ploughe, 7, riding with her father, broken leg and facial lacerations. She was transferred to the Howard Community Hospital at Kokomo and was listed in satisfactory condition Monday night.

David E. Ploughe, 9, her brother, treated at Tipton County Memorial Hospital for chipped teeth and minor lacerations and dismissed.

Donald V. Howell, 14, of Kempton, a passenger in the Hillman auto, multiple cuts and bruises. He was reported in fair condition Monday night at the Tipton hospital.
(Listed as David in the paper)

State police and the Clinton County Sheriff's Department conducted the investigation.

They reported that Hillman was driving north on the Pickard Road and failed to stop. His car rammed into the left side of the Ploughe vehicle, which was traveling west on the state highway.

Hillman's auto also struck a utility pole owned by the Frankfort Power and Light Co. and a fence on the farm of Lloyd Alexander, Kempton Rt.. 1, coming to rest on its left side.

The force of the impact shoved the Ploughe car off the north side of the state road and into a utility pole. Both vehicles were demolished.

Ploughe's injuries were listed as a fractured skull, broken neck, and crushed chest. Hillman died of a fractured skull.

The funeral for Mr. Ploughe will be held at 10:30 o'clock Wednesday morning at the Goodwin Funeral Home with Rev. Frankie Pilley and Rev. John Wrig will officiate and burial will be made in the Oak Hill Cemetery at Kirklin. Calling hours are after 2 p.m. today.

Mr. Ploughe had been associated with the Clinton County Bank and Trust Co. here since 1962, working as a teller.

He was born in Clinton County on March 23, 1930, and was the son of Preston A. and Bessie Mae Douglas Ploughe.

He lived at Clermont from 1957-1962. He was a member of the Clermont Christian Church and attended the West Point Christian Church.

Mr. Ploughe was a veteran of both the Korean Conflict and World War II, serving in the Army in Germany.

He is survived by the widow, Mrs. Norma Jean Davis Ploughe, to whom he was married in 1954; the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Preston Ploughe of near Pickard; the son David Ploughe, at home; the daughter, Barbara Ploughe, at home; seven sisters, Mrs. Kenneth Boone and Mrs. Eugene Walker, both of Sheridan, Mrs. Carl Sotzing and Mrs. Kenneth King, both of Indianapolis,Mrs. Edward Macis of Buena Park, Calif., Mrs. John Thompson of Jefferson and Miss Margie of Kirklin; five brothers, Preston W. and James N. Ploughe, both of Scircleville, and Ralph D., Joseph E. and Dale M. Ploughe, all of Kirklin.

A sister, Mrs. Cyril (Verna) Reddish and a brother Thomas R. Ploughe, preceded him in death.

(as reported by The Frankfort Times)