Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-12-22
FR|CHTFUL ACCIDENT
MIR. and Mrs. Joseph S. Grimes In
stantly Killed at Lorton Station
Fairfax County, Yesterday.


,navia automob;lists occurred yester-
day at Lorton station, on ehe ""s
;nston Southern Railway, when Mr.
Josenb s Grimes and his wife, VINO
wora recurring from Occoquan IN
o,.to,nohi,c, were instantly killed
h., fast passenger Grain. The ill
fa+ad connie, among the best known
ma n,,ular residents Of this city,
b,d made a trip to Occoquan during
the day to visit relatives and friends
both being natives of that neighbor-
hood, They had carried Christmas
reminders, AMI between three and
four o'clock were nearing Lorton sta
ton, 13 miles below Alexandria. A
heavy fog hung over, the vicinity at
the time. and in approaching the sta
tion it is impossible to see the tracks
in clear weather until those using
vehicles or on foot get within few
wards of it. The speedometer upon
the machine used by Nj. and Mrs
Grimes shows that they were pro-
cecding cautiously and that the auto
was being run at six miles an hour.
No ono witnessed the accident, but
there is every reason to believe Mr.
Grimes intended following the rail
way caution--to stop, lvok and listen
hut that the condition of the road
from snow and ice rendered it i'm
possible to stop and caused the ma
chine to slide upon the tracks. The
auto, Judging from the position in
which it was found, was partly across
the north bound track when a fast
passenger train. north bound. struck
the rear part of it. Mrs. Grimes re-
ceivcd the full force of the impact.
she being seated at her husbands
right. Both were thrown about forty
yards to the east and the auto wreck
ed Mrs. Grimes was badly mutilat-
Dc. but MIR. Grimes's body was not
badly MANNED.
The train was brought to a stop
rs soon as possible. but BOTH Mr.
and Mrs. Grimes were dead, both hav-
ing been killed outright.
The news of the terrible accident
reached this city about an hour after
its occurrance. and two automobiles
from Whcatley's undertaking estab-
lishmcnt proceeded to the scene. The
fog w:.s still thick, and one auto
was used rs the pilot machine Of the
other. and both had to proceed eau
tiously, as it was impossible to dis
tnguish objects few yards away
The remains were secured and reach
ed here during the night.
The news of the killing of Mr.. and
Mrs. Grimes was circulated in AL
exandria throughout the early part
of the night, and it brought forth
many expressions Of regret, as both
| lwcrc well-known and esteemed.
Magistrate Frank F. Troth, of
Fairfax county, enpaneled a coron-
er's jury which returned a verdict
TO the effect that the accident might
have been avoided if the crossing had
Pbcen properly safeguarded.
Mr.. and Mrs. Grimes were both
natives of OcccQuan, but had made
Their home in this city for a number
Of years. Mr.. Grimes having come
here to accept Il position with the
firm OF f. q. Reed & Co.. steamship
agents. Their home was Oh Braddock
Heights, northwest of the city.
Mrs. Grimes was a daup1,+ar of
Edward Hammill, of Occocuan and
is survived by three brothers, Wade
Rube and Paul Hamniill, of that place
and sister Miss Lillian Hammil
of Washington. Mr.. Grimes is sur
vivid by a brother, H. NJ. Grimes. a
lumber merchant in Washington.
The crossing at Lorton station is
regarded as one of the most danger
Gus in this vicinity. Since the advent
! of automobiles the number of vehicles
passing over it is increasing daily.
Mt is on the road to Pohick Church,
Gccoquan and other points of inter-
est, and during fair weather is much
patronized. The Board of Supervis-
ors of Fairfax county have long since
realized the Importance of obliterat-
ing this grade crossing, and it is
purposed to have an underground
road similar to that on the Telegraph
Road a6ininino 4 leyanHria