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By PAUL ALTAIRE Courier-Times Staff Writer Croydon trash collector, Nich olas Saranzak, facing an invol untary manslaughter charge and numerous other charges result ing from an automobile acci dent, was committed yesterday to Bucks County Prison to await transfer to a psychiatric insti tution for examination. Struck Stop Sign Saranzak, 47, of 2201 Buchan an Ave. was on trial without a jury in Bucks County Court yes terday before President Judge Edward G. Biester. Saranzak on April 28, 1965 was driving his car along New portville Road when it struck a stop sign at the intersection of Powers Road in Bensalem Township. The stop sign flew off its pole, whirled in the air some 45 feet, and struck George H. Kurtz, 49, of 5658 Newport ville Road in the head, killing him. The 20-pound steel stop-sign split his skull and Kurtz was pronounced dead at the scene. A witness to the bizarre acci dent, Mrs. Carol Eckert of 5658 Terrace Ave., testified yester day that she was standing by her car and saw Kurtz prepar ing to burn trash in an incinera tor on the side lawn of his home, when her attention was attracted to Newportville Road and Utah Ave., a block away by the screeching noise of a car coming to a sudden stop. Identifies Car She said, she saw the car, la ter identified as t he one Saran zak was driving, start up again and move toward Powers Road at high rate of speed, suddenly veer to the right where it struck the stop sign. Mrs. Eckert said she saw the stop sign fly from its mooring to ward Kurtz and shouted a warn ing to him, but that it was too late. She said Saranzak started up his car again in effort to get away. She said the car moved forward a short distance and came to rest at the front of a garage. Also testifying was Ralph Ho garth of 6411 Newportville Road, Cornwells Heights, who was the driver of the ambulance of the now defunct Bensalem Rescue Squad. Arrived 20 Minutes afer Hogarth said he arrived at the scene about 20 minutes after the accident occurred, looked at Kurtz and saw that it was too late to help him. He said he then heard Saran zak say, “I want to get the m out of here.” He said Saranzak got in the car but that he (Hogarth) reach ed in through the car window (Continued on Page 4, Col. 6)
Newspaper Details
Bristol Bucks County Courier
Bristol, Pennsylvania, US
Tue, Apr 26, 1966
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Jennifer M.
PA, USA 13 May 2026
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