Newspaper Article

"Traffic Accident Claims Cyclist"

Seventeen-year-old Matthew Wayne Partenberry was fatally injured at 3:30pm Monday in a collision between his motorcycle and a cattle truck at Highway 43 and Fargo Avenue.  Brought by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital, Partenberry succumbed an hour later. 

California Highway Patrol reported Partenberry was werstbound on Highway 43, then pulled directly in to the path of the semi-truck and stock trailer driven by Joey A. Bertao, 25, of 142 W. Terrace Drive.

The impact ejected Partenberry and the truck came to rest on the west shoulder of 43 with the motorcycle underneath.  The victim was thrown clear and landed on the road shoulder just south of the truck. 

The youth lived with his stepfather and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Willie G. Smith, at 304 E. Malone St.

Matthew's Obitituary (Died June 5th, 1978)

Funeral services will be held Friday at 3pm in People's Funeral Chapel for Matthew W. Partneberry (Smith), 17, who was fatally injusred Monday in a traffic accident.  visitation will be held at the chapel from 1 -9pm Thursday.

Born in Hanford, he graduated from Woodrow Wilson School and was a junior at Hanford High School. 

Surviving are his step-father and mother, Wille G. and Lorria Smith of Hanford; his father, Omer Partenberry of Corcoran; three brothers, Johgn Partenberry, Bret Smith and Keven Smith, all of Hanford; a stepsister, Teresa Lynn Smith of Los Angeles; his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer J. Cooksey of Grove rcity and Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Smith of Georgetwon, S.C.