James Ward, 33, Franklin, was killed Tuesday around 6pm in a tractor and semi collision on state road 37 near Waverly Road. Mr. Ward was driving the tractor, which was pulling a Bush Hog. Driver of the semi was Bradley Clayton, 39, Henderson, KY. He was not hurt. The semi is owned by J.B. Hunt Trucking of Lowell, Ark. Deputy Jeff Downey reported that the tractor was apparently traveling on the berm and Mr. Ward may have pulled onto the road without seeing the semi. He said his findings were unofficial and the collision will be investigated by a police accident reconstructionist. Mr. Ward’s body was taken to Vandiver-Tudor Morturary at Franklin. His funeral will be Saturday at 10:30am at Fair Haven Christian Church, 2 miles north of Trafalgar on state road 135. Calling is at the Church from 2 to 8pm on Friday. Mr. Ward is the sixth traffic fatality in Morgan County this year. Traffic on state road 37 was tied up for some time and another collision occurred at the scene. Drivers were Melissa Julian, 24, Mooresville; and Earl Kidwell, 52, 6857 Waverly Road. No injuries were reported in the second accident. Damage was $15,000. Deputy Terry Keith investigated it.
Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, Indiana Thursday, July 30, 1992.
TRACTOR DRIVER DIES AFTER DRIVING INTO SEMI’S PATH. Star Metro Report. Waverly, Ind -- A 33-year old Franklin man was killed when the farm tractor he was driving was struck by a semi-trailer truck along state road 37, investigators said. James Jeffrey Ward, Franklin, died at the scene of the accident, which occurred about 6pm. Tuesday just east of Waverly. State police said Ward was riding north along the shoulder of the highway when he apparently pulled onto the road. The oncoming semi driver, Clayton J. Bradley, 39, Henderson, Ky., said he swerved onto the shoulder to avoid the tractor, but Bradley said he struck the tractor when Ward swerved back onto the shoulder. No charges have been filed in the accident.
Transcribed by Kay Ward Seipp