Steven Drotoz
1949-Nov. 11, 1967
Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 13, 1967, page 1, col. 6-7, microfilm Niles District Library
Smashup kills Niles youth, 18
Funeral services for Steven Drotoz, 18, son of Mr.and Mrs. Steve Drotoz, 2119 Spansail Drive, will be conducted at 1 p.m. Wednesday in the Pifer Funeral Home.
The youth, a sophomore at Western Michigan University, was killed Saturday night in a near head-on auto crash on Edison Road near Hickory Road.
He was a passenger in a car driven by Jerry Flenar, 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Flenar, route one, buchanan[sic]. Flenar, a junior at WMU, suffered a severe forehead cut and was released from St. Joseph's Hospital, South Bend, after treatment.
Also a passenger in the Flenar auto was Linda Cooper, 17, daughter of Mr.and Mrs. Clayson Cooper, 1808 Cedar St. She was released from St. Joseph's Hospital after emergency treatment for back and shoulder bruises.
Corliss Zanini, 18, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Zanini, route two, Buchanan, also riding in the Flenar auto, is listed in fairly good condition in St. Joseph's Hospital.
Driver of the other auto, Linda Casper, 16, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Everett Casper, 52871 Hollyhock Road, South End, is listed in fair condition in the same hospital.
South Bend city police reort the accident is still under investigation. Officers reported that the Casper auto went out of control and careened across the centerline striking the oncoming Flenar auto.
The Drotoz boy is survived by his parents, his grandmother, Mrs. Inez Butterworth of Niles; a brother William of San Antonio, Texas; and a sister Helen at home.
He was born in Spangler, Pa., and moved the Niles area in 1951.
Funeral services will be conducted by the Rev. Kenneth Cary pastor of the Westminster Presbyterian Church. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.
Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 p.m. today.