[Photograph 2012.201.B0052.1112]

Photograph taken for a newspaper owned by the Oklahoma Publishing Company. Caption: "Here's what happened Saturday when a motorcycle crashed into a car in the 800 block W Britton road Saturday. A gas tank exploded, burning one man severely and damaging three cars. The motorcycle and one of the cars are shown after they were pulled from the center of the street. A 26-year-old city man was seriously hurt Saturday when his motorcycle crashed into the rear of a car and exploding gasoline tanks set fire to three automobiles. The victim was identified as Merl Dean Payton, 26, of 115 NW 97. He was admitted to Mercy hospital suffering from first and second degree burns about the head, chest, and back and multiple bruises and abrasions. Officer V. L. Connell said the mishap happened in the 800 block NW Britton road shortly after 3 p.m. He said Payton's motorcycle swerved to avoid a collision with an unidentified motorist backing from a driveway and crashed into rear of a car driven by Mrs. Geraldine Weaver, 26, of 1821 Sheffield road. The gas tank of Mrs. Weavers' car exploded, Connell said, setting fire to two nearby cars owned by cafe operator and Claretta Blair, 19, of Edmond. Mrs. Weavers' car he said, was "practically destroyed." Payton was pinned under the wreckage for several minutes until he was freed by spectators, Connell reported. The officer said no charges have been filed but investigation of the mishap is continuing. He said Payton has a traffic record which "consists of a dozen arrests.