A 31-year-old member of a well-known Belle Vernon family was instantly killedMonday night;January 20;1954;when his car upset on Elrama road at Shire Oaks. Charles L.Wells;31;432 Graham St.;Belle Vernon;may have lost his life because of speed and the rutted condition of the berm along Route 837 at the point of the accident. Wells was driving south along the river route at 8:30 p.m. At a grade directly opposite the Pennsylvania Railroad Co.yards;the wheels of the car left the concrete;according to Police Chief George Nagy of Union township. The machine plunged headlong across the highway;ripped out four guard-posts;bounced back on the road;upset twice;then ended up against guard rails on the west side of the highway. Wells’body was hurled thru the rear window of the 1951 sedan. Charles Wells was born at Fairhope;Oct.24;1922;the son of Mr.and Mrs.Steward Wells;now of Belle Vernon. He is survived by his wife;Lila Heino Wells;his parents;one brother;Curtis of Belle Vernon and two sisters;Mrs.William Palfrey of Belle Vernon and Mrs.Samuel Stedman of Speers. A World War Veteran;Wells was a member of the American Legion and the First Christian Church. He was employed by Monessen Southwestern Railways Co.;a Pittsburgh Steel Co.Subsidiary. Military services will be held for the deceased on Saturday. Friends will be received at the Melenyzer Funeral home;Belle vernon. Services will be held there Saturday;January 23;1954;at 3:30 p.m.;in charge of Rev.John Bowers. Military rites will be conducted by Belle Vernon American Legion Post 659;and interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. Chas.L.Melenyzer and Shelby D.Ferguson are the funeral directors.