The Washington times., 1918-11-29
STREET FATALITIES
PASS JULY RECORD

Carelessness on the part of pedes-
trians Is the reason assigned today
by Major Raymond Pullman, Superin-
tendent OF Police, for the increase in
traffic accidents which has caused
twelve deaths in Washington this
month.
With the death yesterday OF Calvin
Moten, colored, eleven years old, from
injuries sustained when he was run
over by an automobile truck at Yer
mont avenue and V street northwest,
a new high death record due to traffic
accidents was reached.
Failure to look for approaching
automobiles before crossing the street
has caused the majority Of accidents
where a death or serious injury oc-
Cured" Major Pullman said today.
Until pedestrians are educated to
be careful when crossing streets in
congested sections of the city, the
death rate will be alarming"
The elimination of street car load
irg platforms on the far side OF
streets will do much to prevent fatal
traffic accidents. in the opinion of
William F. Peabody, president of the
Washington Safety First Association.
Hit Boarding Cars.
Several of the accidents have oc-
CURED at street car loading plat
FORMS" Mr.. Peabody said. Persons
who were walking across the street
to board cars were in most cases vic
tins OF the reckless automobile driver
and the speed maniac.
The Safety First Association has
tried to educate pedestrians to cross
at street intersections. but the estab-
lishnent of some of the loading plat
forms at the far side of the street has
interfered with our plans. The load
ing platforms were put into use as a
war measure, and believe the soon
er they are eliminated the less trou-
BILE we will have during the coming
winter with the traffic problem"
Mr.. Peabody believes a severe pen
atty should be put in force against
speeders.
"It is not an uncommon sight" he
said. ito see an automobile Ndashing
mad1y down Pennsylvania avenue at
the busiest hours Of the day."
The death record this month sur
passes by seven deaths the previous
high mark established in July, when
Eve persons were killed by automo-
biles in traffic accidents.
Street Cars COllide.
Four persons were injured last
night when two street cars OF the
Washington Railway and Electric
Company coIlided at North Capitol
and H streets.
W. J. Long. forty-five years old, OF
46 Rhode Island avenue northeast,
and E H. johnson, colored, thirty
five years old. 916 Altman street. Bal
timore. Nd. were cut by flying glass.
Andrew Hicks, colored. thirteen years
old, of 1921 Gales street northeast,
and Harvey Lee, colored. fifteen
years old, rs Eighteenth street
northeast. suffered bruises on the
head and body when they wert
thrown against the side of the car.
Both cars had stopped at the cross
ing when the motormen, failing to
understand the signals, started for the
crossing together, with the result
that the cars collided midway on the
tracks. The injured were taken to
the Casualty Hospital, where they
were treated and later taken to their
homes
An automobile operated by Thomas
s. Andrews, 1716 Seventh street north
west, colIided with an automobile
operated by an unknown man at Sew
enth and NJ streets northwest. The
impact of the collision caused An
drews' machine to swerve suddenly
and crash into a plate glass window
of ]. n Brown at Seventh and n
streets