The Life of RONALD DEAN HOPKINS
The death of Ronald Dean Hopkins, 17, in a motorcycle accident Thursday afternoon was still under investigation Friday by Dr. Jack Hatchitt, acting Polk County Medical Examiner.
Police theorized that the youth, who was out on a trial run with the motorcycle, was killed when part of a brake handle on the machine pierced his lung and went into his heart.
Dr. Hatchitt said Friday that young Hopkins died of a piercing wound in the left side of his chest although the motorcyle brake handle was on the right side of the motorcycle.
Hatchitt said that it''s possible young Hopkins received the fatal injury when the brake handle swung around and pierced his chest after the motorcycle hit a utilty pole at E Fifteenth Street and Washington Ave.
Hopkins, son of Mr. & Mrs. Harold Hopkins of 3934 Amherst St. died shortly after the accident, about 4:30 p.m. Thursday.
Ironically, damage to the motorcycle amounted to only $10.
Services for the Hopkins youth, who was a senior at North High School, will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Arnold''s Highland Park Funeral Home. Burial will be in Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery.
The youth was born in Osceola and lived here 15 years, moving to Des Moines from Weldon. He had one semester remaining before graduation at North.
Surviving besides his parents, are four sisters, Linda, 16; Shirley, 15; Caroline, 12; and Vicki, 5; his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Bina Hughes of Lamoni and his paternal grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. Clyde Hopkins of Des Moines.