SPECIAL TO THE NEW YORK TIMES WARREN, Ohio, Dec. 23 (AP) — A freakish accident on the Warren Harding High School basketball court last night brought an abrupt end to the promising career of a youth who was being watched by scouts of colleges around the country.
Ohio Scholastic Star Dies During a Game
The player, Wayne Johnson of Akron, collapsed in a tangle of players during the Warren Harding‐Akron Buchtel game. Dr. Joseph Sudimack Jr., Warren County coroner, said Johnson, 18 years old, died of asphyxiation caused when a piece of gum got stuck in Johnson's throat, induced vomiting and the “gastric contents” went into his lungs.
The 6‐foot‐5‐inch, 190‐pound Johnson failed to respond to mouth‐to‐mouth resuscitation or to heart massage administered by a doctor at the scene.