Pages past - July 8

On this date ...

1970: A South Carolina soldier miraculously escaped serious injury in a car accident near Tucumcari. Edward John Saunderson, 21, was traveling in a 1963 Volkswagen sedan east on Interstate 40 when his vehicle left the roadway, traveled 248 feet, hit an embankment, went airborne 91 feet, overturned at least 2 1/2 times and came to rest after another 129 feet. Saunderson told a police officer he had fallen asleep at the wheel. Saunderson was listed in fair condition at Trigg Memorial Hospital. He was ticketed for careless driving.

• Tucumcari will host 240 people from neighboring towns and states for the Square Dancers Jamboree. Dancers will participate in a workshop at the International Order of Odd Fellows Hall in the afternoon and a dance at the Youth Recreation Center that night.

• The Odeon Theatre was screening “Easy Rider,” a 1969 motorcycle road-drama film starring Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper.