OBIT: Jon ROMANI, 1967, near Newry, Blair County, PA

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Auto Upsets On Route 36 Curve, Burns

  Five young people, two girls and three boys, one 14, the others 16 
years old, died last night in the worst motor vehicle accident in Blair 
County in eight years.  The multiple fatality occurred near the Catfish 
House on Route 36 at 8:30 p.m.
  Four of the victims were dead on arrival at Mercy Hospital about 9 
p.m. They were:
  Jon Romani, 16, of near Newry, believed to be the operator of the 
Romani family car.
  Scott Allen Marshall, 16 of Frankstown, Robert J. Steele Jr., 16 of 
Frankstown, Olive Lorraine Metzger, 16, of 619 Juniata St., 
Hollidaysburg, Florence Metzger, 14, sister of Olive, was alive when 
examined at the hospital but died at 10 p.m. despite the efforts of the 
emergency room staff.

All Suffered Skull Fractures

  Examination of the young people at Mercy Hospital disclosed that Jon 
had suffered a fracture of the skull; Scott, compound fractures of both 
arms, fracture of the skull and compound fractures of the pelvis; 
Robert, fracture of the skull and possible fracture of the pelvis; 
Olive fracture of the skull, fractures of the left hand and wrist and 
multiple contusions and abrasions; Florence, fracture of the skull, 
lacerations of the body, right thigh and knee, and left ankle; deep 
shock and multiple contusions and abrasions. 
  An earlier fifth passenger in the hardtop convertible, Craig I. 
Marshall, 15, brother of Scott, told Deputy Coroner William T. Crawford 
that he left the car at the Hollidaysburg Diamond and joined his mother 
at a laundry mat there.  The group, he said had been at a Duncansville 
service station because the brakes on the car were pulling to the 
right. 
  The others were en route to visit the Clark home, near the Nelson 
nurseries along Route 36, just south of the scene of the fatal wreck,  
Craig reported.

Hits 19 Guard Posts

  State police said the car was moving south when the operator lost 
control on the long, sweeping curve to the left and struck 14 guard 
rail posts on the west berm.  Continuing south, it tore out five 
additional guard posts, struck a tree and came to rest on its roof and 
burst into flames.  The five were thrown out of the car before it 
caught fire. 
  Both Coroner D. Harold Troxeli and Deputy Corner Crawford joined 
state police at the scene and hospital and the investigation of the 
accident is being continued today.  Three ambulances, from 
Hollidaysburg and Duncansville, were called to remove the victims to 
the hospital. 
  Several fire trucks were also at the scene, with firemen helping 
police direct the heavy traffic.  Police placed the scene of the 
accident at three miles south of Hollidaysburg, in the area where old 
and new Route 36 join.

Altoona Mirror, Altoona, Pa., September 27, 1967 

Jon Romani

  Jon was born in Philadelphia April 8, 1951, a son of Angelo J. and 
Viola (Rendino) Romani, and was a member of the junior class at Central 
High School, Martinsburg.
  Surviving are his parents, a brother and two sisters, Randy, Marla 
and Lana, at home, and grandparents. Mrs. Philomena Barba of 
Philadelphia and Mr. and Mrs. John Romani of Gallitzin. 
  He was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Newry, a former Boy 
Scout and had his own orchestra, JR and the Velveteers, in which he 
played the drums.
  Friends will be received in the Santella Funeral Home after 7 p.m. 
today. 

Altoona Mirror, Altoona, Pa., September 28, 1967