This Day in History: 1965-07-23

Another motorist died leaving the Swiss Chalet in Ramsey. Wesley R. Larsen, 52, turned left from the parking lot at the restaurant onto the northbound lane of Route 17 and was killed instantly when his car rammed into a car driven by a New York City man. Benjamin F. Dixon, 45, and his passenger, Charles Curtis, 60, also of New York City were treated at the Good Samaritan Hospital and released the next day. Ramsey Police Chief Norman R. Stegen, working with the proprietors of the Swiss Chalet, arranged for a temporary barrier to be placed across the exit to the lot until a permanent closing could take place. Larsen was the third fatality in eighteen months from the same cause, as well as several non-fatal accidents. The victim, a native of North Dakota, had been the deputy project engineer on the Titan I missile program. Mr. Dixon had attempted to avoid the accident by blowing his horn and blinking his lights but could not avoid the collision.

There had been other similar incidents involving other places along the divided highway. On the 27th another motorist had turned north onto the southbound lane in Mahwah but had escaped an accident. (Bristow)