Lyle Vincent Smith, 16, son of Herbert and the late Mrs. Smith, North Grimsby, was killed instantly on Saturday evening when his stalled motorcycle, beside which he was standing on No. 8 highway, one mile west of Grimsby, was struck from behind by and eastbound car in charge of Glen Small, 147 Rosslyn avenue South, Hamilton. Another lad, John McLaren, also standing beside the machine, managed to jump aside in time to save himself.
Marks in the highway led police to believe that motorcycle and boy were hurled a distance of at least 60 feet by the force of the impact. Mrs. Small, riding in the front seat of the car beside her husband, was thrown against the windshield with such force that her head shattered the glass. The accident happened only a short distance from the Smith boy's home. According to young McLaren, the motorcycle had stalled a moment before and was standing near the edge of the pavement while Smith tried to start it. The motorcycle lights were on and two other eastbound cars had passed the machine, he asserted, before it was struck.
According to the police report, the car driver said he was blinded by glaring headlights on an approaching car and did not see the motorcycle till within 15 or 20 feet of it. The front end of the car was extensively damaged.
Dr. A.F. McIntyre attended, but found the boy's injuries such that he had died instantly. Coroner Dr. J.H. Leeds, Smithville, viewed the boy's remains at the Stonehouse funeral home and reported by telephone to Lincoln County Crown Attorney E.H. Lancaster, K.C., St. Catharines. Provincial Constables A.E. Reilly and Ernest Hart, of the Grimsby detachment, investigated.
Lyle Smith was born near Ancaster on June 10, 1927. For the last several years he had resided at Beamsville, coming to North Grimsby one year ago. He was attending Hamilton Technical School.
He is survived by his father; three brothers, F.O. Ivan Smith, R.C.A.F., overseas; Pte. Ralph Smith, R.C.E., in Canada, and Donald, at home; also five sisters, Mrs. John Tiveron, Mrs. David Cox and Mrs. Grant Laundry, all of Beamsville; Eileen and Betty at home. He was a grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Pottruff, North Grimsby. Funeral was held from the Stonehouse funeral home on Tuesday afternoon, with interment in White Brick Church Cemetery, Ancaster. Rev. W.C. Almack, United Church, Beamsville, conducted the services, assisted by Rev. W.J. Watt, Grimsby.
Casket bearers were Wm. Cox, David Kimberley, Frank Tivern, Beamsville; Jack MacLaren, Jas. Price and Lee Krhez, Grimsby.
