Photograph taken for a newspaper owned by the Oklahoma Publishing Company. Caption: "Viewing fatal motorcycle wreck are Muskogee police officer George Abel, left, and Highway Patrol Trooper Ronald James. FUNERAL SERVICES PENDING FOR ED EDMONDSON'S SON--MUSKOGEE -- Funeral services are pending for John Martin "Tad" Edmondson, 22-year-old son of U.S. Rep. and Mrs. Ed Edmondson, who was killed early Friday when his motorcycle veered off a road in Muskogee and plunged through a wire fence. The victim's fiancee, Miss Verna Elizabeth Winburn, 21 who was riding with him, remained in serious condition at Muskogee General Hospital after undergoing surgery. Edmondson was scheduled to be married to the Muskogee school teacher later this month. Both had graduated from Northeastern State College in Tahlequah last fall. Young Edmondson had been assisting in his father's campaign for the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination, while his fiancee taught in a Muskogee junior high school. Police said the accident which killed Edmondson and injured his fiancee happened just after midnight, but the couple lay un-noticed until shortly before 6 a. m. Officials say Edmondson apparently died shortly after the accident of head and neck injuries. Miss Winburn suffered multiple injuries. Police said Miss Winburn was able to tell them only the approximate time of the accident. There were no skid marks, indicating the motorcycle failed to negotiate a curve on the access road. A passing motorist discovered the accident almost 5 hours later. Officers said the motorcycle landed in a low area between the turnpike and the access road which was difficult to see. For the Edmondson family, it was the second tragedy since last fall. The veteran congressman's brother, former Oklahoma Gov. J. Howard Edmondson died last November. Congressman Edmondson, who had been campaigning about the state in his race for the Senate, was at his home in Muskogee when the crash was discovered. He canceled all engagements, including an open house slated Friday at his Oklahoma County headquarters and a scheduled appearance Monday at the Robert A. Taft Institute of Government seminar to be conducted at Oklahoma City University. A spokesman for Edmondson's headquarters said it was his understanding that all of the congressman's campaign activities would be curtailed for at least two weeks and possibly a month. Survivors in addition to the congressman and his wife include three brothers, Drew, who is in charge of his father's Oklahoma City campaign headquarters; Jim Ed of Washington, a law graduate of Georgetown University; a younger brother, Brian, and a sister, June both of the home. The family Friday reportedly was trying to contact June, who was en route to Mexico on a vacation."
Place Name coordinates. (May be approximate.)
Place Name coordinates. (May be approximate.)
