A rural Audubon man died Saturday afternoon November 1, 1975, in an Omaha, Nebraska, hospital of injuries suffered in a 'freak' accident six miles north of Audubon on Highway 71 at 7:35 p.m. Friday.

He was Edward Schlichte, 19, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Schlichte, who farms southeast of Audubon. They moved to Audubon several years ago from Carroll County.

Young Schlichte suffered head injuries in the accident. He was taken to Audubon County Memorial Hospital by the Audubon Fire Department's emergency unit and then transferred by ambulance, to Immanuel Hospital in Omaha where he died at 12:45 Saturday afternoon.

State Trooper Darrell Keast of Audubon, said the accident occurred in this manner: A gravel truck was pulling a trailer, commonly known as a "pup" with both units loaded with agricultural lime. The truck was southbound on Highway 71, when the "pup" became unhitched from the truck, but continued to trail along bend it because it was still attached by the air hoses. As the truck began the incline up the next hill - about a half mile from where the trailer came unhitched - the weight of the trailer's load caused it to break loose from the truck. The trailer rolled backward down the hill and upset on its side on the shoulder on the opposite side of the road.

The truck driver, Franklin Troy Trucks, 41, of Jefferson, had realized what had happened and stopped his truck and saw the overturned trailer, which came to rest with its long tongue protruding out into the traveled portion of the roadway. Trucks went to a nearby farm house to summon help to remove the trailer, but before he returned Schlichte came over the hill and crashed into the trailer tongue. Trooper Keast said the tongue went through the windshield of Schlichte's car, struck him in the head, and then partially sheared off the top of the car.

Schlichte's car continued down the road a short distance and came to rest in a field.

Edward Anthony Schlichte was born in St. Anthony Hospital, Carroll, November 5, 1955, the son of Robert and Ardella (Halbur) Schlichte. He grew up in Carroll County and graduated from Manning High School in 1973.

After graduating from high school young Schlichte worked for a construction firm, the alfalfa dehydrating plant in Audubon, and more lately, had worked on the farm for his parents.

Schlichte was also involved in a fatal Carroll County traffic accident late in November 1974 when the car he was driving and one driven by Thomas L. Leiting, 19, Coon Rapids, collided on U.S. 71 about 10 1/2 miles south of Carroll. Karen R. Eich, 17, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Eich of Carroll, a passenger in Schlichte's car, was killed instantly. Schlichte was injured seriously.

Survivors include: his parents; six brothers, Michael, Richard, Lyle, Lynn, Kevin and Brian; four sisters, DeAnn, Joyce, Jill and Debra; grandparents, Mrs. Regina Schlichte of Templeton and Anton J. Halbur of Altoona, Iowa.

Funeral services were held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Audubon, with Msgr. W.J. Devine officiating. Burial was in the parish cemetery. Casket bearers were Keith Klocke, Glen Dentlinger, Dale Sturm, Scott Eischeid, Ronald Schmitz and Randy Engelen.

Rosary was recited Sunday evening in McFadden Funeral Home by Msgr. W. J. Devine, and also at 7:30 p.m. Monday.