“Why did the orange stop in the middle of the road?”/“It ran out of juice.”

An orange riddle is:
 
Q: Why did the orange stop in the middle of the road?
A: It ran out juice.
 
The riddle has been cited in print since at least 1972.
 
   
2 September 1972, Cumberland (MD) News-Times, “Mini Jokes,” The Mini Page, pg. 3, col. 1:
Q, Why did the orange stop in the middle of the road?
A. It ran out of juice.
(Stacy Wilt, RD 4, Keyser)
 
5 November 1972, Sunday Herald-Leader (Lexington, KY), “Cornered” by Bob Fain, pg. 1, col. 1:
This comes in from Mary Ritchie of Mt. Sterling:
 
Ted: Why did the orange stop in the middle of the road?
Tod: I don’t know. Why did the orange stop in the middle of the road?
Ted : It ran out of juice.
 
8 October 1973, Austin (TX) Statesman, “Fun Time—The Riddle Box” by A. Leokum, pg. 31, col. 5:
Why did the orange stop in the middle of the road?
Because it ran out of juice.
 
Google Books
Biggest Riddle Book in the World
By Joseph Rosenbloom
Illustrated by Joyce Behr
New York, NY: Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.
1976
Pg. 183:
Why did the orange stop in the middle of the road?
It ran out of juice.
 
Google Books
The Ha Ha Bonk Book
By Janet and Allan Ahlberg
London: Puffin Books
1982
Pg. ?:
Why did the orange stop at the top of the hill?
It ran out of juice.
 
Facebook
Dad Jokes
January 10, 2014 ·
Why did the orange stop half way up the hill?
It ran out of juice.
(thanks Lisa)
 
Google Books
The Super, Epic, Mega Joke Book for Kids
By Whee Winn
Grand Rapids, MI: Zonderkidz
2016
Pg. ?:
Why did the orange lose the race?
Because he ran out of juice.
 
Reddit—Jokes
Why did the orange stop rolling down the hill?
submitted February 8, 2016 by TheGamblingAddict
It ran out of juice.
 
Google Books
Happy Smile: Jokes for Kids
By Adam Smith
Lulu Publishing (Lulu.com)
2017
Pg. ?:
Q: Why did the orange stop in the middle of the hill?
A: It ran out of juice!
 
Reddit—Jokes
Why did the orange stop?
submitted March 2, 2017 by 8958
It ran out of juice.