Kiel - Three young people were killed and one other injured seriously Sunday afternoon at 3:45 o'clock when the automobile in which they were riding was struck by the Chippewa, crack Milwaukee Road train.

The accident occurred on Fremont street, the main street of Kiel, and the train was traveling at a rapid pace at the time, as it does not stop at Kiel.

The dead are Richard Neumann, 17, son of Mr. and Mrs. Hugo Neumann of 704 St. Paul street, Kiel; Virginia Klapperich, 19, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Klapperich of New Holstein, and Miles Moths, 18, son of Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Moths of Kiel. Moths was the drive of the car. Both Richard Neumann and Virginia Klapperich were killed instantly, and Miles Moths died at 11:50 p.m. Sunday at the St. Nicholas hospital, Sheboygan.

Critically injured is Betty Jane Schwantes, 19, of New Holstein, who suffered a fractured skull. Miss Schwantes was unconscious throughout the night.

Three others in the car, less seriously hurt, were Elmer Buchmann, Delhart Freis and Jerome Wilkens, 19, all of Kiel.

The five injured persons were taken to the St. Nicholas hospital in Sheboygan. The body of Miss Klapperich was taken to the Erbe-Hoffmann Funeral home at New Holstein and the body of Richard Neumann was taken to the Meiselwitz Funeral home at Kiel.

The Freis boy sustained cuts about the face; Wilkens suffered cuts, bruises and shock and Buchmann also sustained cuts and bruises. The car was a complete wreck.

Richard H. Neumann, who would have been 18 years old next Sunday, Feb. 13, is the son of Hugo and Frieda Meile Neumann. He was born in New Holstein on Feb. 13, 1926, and attended the public schools at Kiel and graduated from the Kiel High school last spring.

He was a faithful member of the First Presbyterian church of Kiel.

Richard enlisted in the Army Air Corps Reserve on Aug. 9, 1943, and would have been inducted next March 1.

Survivors are his parents; a brother, Donald; his grandmothers, Mrs. Agnes Neumann and Mrs. Emma Meile of Kiel. The tragedy occurred on the 80th birthday of his grandmother, Mrs. Agnes Neumann.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. at the Meiselwitz Funeral home and at 2 p.m. at the First Presbyterian church. Friends may call at the funeral home beginning at 4 p.m., Tuesday.

Virginia Klapperich, 19, was born Jan. 31, 1925, in New Holstein, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Klapperich, and graduated last Spring from the New Holstein High school. She has since been employed at the Leverenz Shoe Co. at New Holstein.

She was an only child and survivors are her parents and her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Simon Boehlein of New Holstein.

Funeral services will be held Thursday at 9 a.m. at the Erbe-Hoffmann Funeral home and at 9:30 a.m. at the Holy Rosary Catholic church, the Rev. Alfred Pritzl officiating. Burial will be made in Holy Rosary cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home beginning Tuesday morning.

Miles William Moths, 18, son of Oliver and Clara Yahr Moths, was born Feb. 28, 1925, at Silver Creek, town Sherman, Sheboygan county.

He attended the Harrison school in town Rhine and later attended the Kiel schools, graduating from the Kiel High school in 1942.

He took an aircraft engine course in Racine and was employed at the Freis Feed and Elevator Co., at Kiel.

Survivors are the parents; a sister, Mae, and the grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Julius Yahr, Sr., of Waubeka.

Funeral services will be held Thursday at 1:30 p.m. at the Meiselwitz Funeral home at Kiel, and at 2 p.m. at the St. Peter Evangelical and Reformed church, the Rev. E. L. Worthman officiating. Burial will be made in the Kiel city cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home beginning at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

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