City man killed when runaway trailer hits him Dale Beeson Sr. hit while taking out the trash Loose Trailer

Wichita Falls Times Record News (TX)

May 11, 1999

Section: Local News
Page: A5

City man killed when runaway trailer hits him Dale Beeson Sr. hit while taking out the trash
Author: Jenara Kocks, Times Record News

Article Text:

Dale Beeson Sr., who will be remembered as a wonderful husband, father and grandfather by his family, was killed Monday morning in what police call a freak accident when a trailer came off a truck and hit him as he was taking out the trash.

Beeson, 78, was transported to the 11th Street Campus of United Regional Healthcare Systems and was pronounced dead at the hospital, according to police reports.

Brian Ward, 40, of Wichita Falls was driving north in the left lane of the 4300 block of Fairway in a 1995 White Dodge pickup when he felt a jerk and then noticed that the homemade trailer that he was towing had come unhitched, according to police reports.

Ward told police that at first, the trailer veered into the right lane and looked as if it would rear-end a parked car. Then he said it suddenly jumped the curb at the corner of Fairway and Bonita Street and hit an elderly man who looked as if he was taking out the trash, according to police reports.

Ward immediately stopped his truck to check on the man and called 911 about 10:01 a.m. Monday when he realized the man needed medical assistance. He then flagged down an off duty police officer, according to police reports.

Sgt. Larry Robinett said police do not know why the trailer came off the truck, but the incident appeared to be an accident.

Beeson's wife Sarah said she was loading the dishwasher Monday morning while Beeson was taking out the trash, and she didn't know the accident had happened until she heard the sirens. She said she thought there had probably been an accident on Fairway.

"I walked to the end of the driveway and saw them working on this man. The closer I got, I saw him and thought, 'Oh my, that's my husband,' " she said.

Beeson said she and her husband were high school sweethearts in Malvern, Ark., and had been married for 55 years.

They moved to Wichita Falls in 1954, and he worked in civil service at Sheppard Air Force Base. Beeson retired in 1976 after 38 years in the civil service.

Sarah Beeson said her husband enjoyed playing golf and fishing when he could. He was a member of the senior golf association and University United Methodist Church.

Beeson said her husband "loved people" and met with some of the guys who used to work with him at Sheppard once a month for coffee.

Survivors include three sons, Dale Jr. of Wichita Falls, George of Abilene, Texas, Rick of Grandfield, Okla.; and three grandchildren.

Rick Beeson said his father was very fond of his grandchildren, especially the youngest, 2 12-year-old Richard. Beeson, who lives in Grandfield, Okla., said he had just gotten off the phone with his father before the accident occurred to tell him that they were running late "because he always wanted to know where his grandson was."

"He'll be greatly missed by all of us. He was a very loving man," he said.

Services are pending with Hampton Vaughan Crestview Chapel.

Staff Writer Jenara Kocks can be reached at (940) 763-7530 or (800) 627-1646, Ext. 530, or with e-mail at jkocks@wf.scripps.com.

Copyright 1999, 2006 Wichita Falls Times Record News
Record Number: 1126167F57FC3DC9