Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-05
Federal EmpIoye and Wife
in Critical Condition, Two
Sons Less Serious.
AUTO STRIKES POWER
POLE NEAR LARGO, ND.
Charged With 2,4o0 Volts, Machine
Burns-Injured Man Helps
Extricate Family.

Shocked by a 2,400-Volt electric line
and seriously injured when their auto
mobile crashed into a power pole and
overturned in flames near Largo, Md,
early today, Warren Clardy, "A years
old, internal revenue executive, and his
wife are in critical condition at Cas-
ualty Hospital.
Two sons Of the couple Warren, jr.,
Is years old, and william, aged g.
escaped with lesser injuries, although
doctors have Warren under observation
for possible fracture of the skull.
witnesses said the car was moving
rapidly toward Washington about 7:30
o'clock this morning on Central avenue.
at point about mile this side of
Largo, wher it Swerved suddenly to
avoid a machine coming en- the avenue
from side road, hit heavy pole
carrying the power line and overturned
across the roadway.
Aids in Extricating Family.
The falling pole brought the 2,4O0-
volt power wires across the automobile,
charging it throughout.
Although Clardy was critically in
jured, he w2s able to aid in extricating
his family from the electrically charged
wreckage. Witnesses said he was
thrown from beneath the wheel almost
out of the damaged car.
The family, who live at 1716 Euclid
street. were removed in a neighbor's
automobile to Casualty Hospital, where
they were treated by DR.. Louis Jimal of
the hospital staff. All were badly
shocked by electricity.
Mr.. Clardy has a possible fracture of
the back and skull and severe bruises
and lacerations, while his wife may
have a fractured neck, a preliminary
examination revealed Warren, jr.. in
addition to a possible fracture of the
skull, was badly lacerated about the
face. William escaped with minor
bruises.
The trapped occupants of the auto
mobile were extricated with the assist
ance Of John B. Cook, the proprietor of
a green house. living beside the high
way where the accident occurred: his
son, Edwin, 81, and several employees at
the hothouse.
The rescuers received several painful
shocks in the process.
Avoiding Other Machine.
The machine which the Clardy auto
mobile was avoiding when the accident
occurred was operated by Frank Wind
was turning into the avenue from the
farm drive on the south side. He said
the Clardy machine, travelling more
than 40 miles an hour, swerved to the
north side of the avenue, sheared away
the pole, then swung broadside of the
road, overturning as it sideswiped the
rear of his machine.
The Clardy machine, ignited by the
wires, was completely consumed as it
lay in the highway. Fire trucks from
Boulevard Heights, Capital and Greater
Capital Heights were summoned, but
firemen were hindered by the power
wires.
Linemen of the Potomac Electric
Power Co. had to cut away the lines
before the wreck could be cleared from
the highway.
Mr.. Clardy, who is senior technical
clerk, rules and regulations on income
tax, Bureau Of Internal Revenue, was
returning with his family from Chesa-
peake Beach, where the four of them
spent the Fourth of July.
the automobile of Edwin Cook, 81, liv-
ing with his father at the scene of the
accident.
Ten Others Injured.
Ten other persons were injured, two
seriously, in automobile accidents in and
near the District yesterday afternoon
and last night.
Josephine McCabe, 90, of 4140 Sew
enth street was thrown to the street
shortly after IL o'clock last night fol-
lowing an automobile collision at Rhode
Island avenue and Ninth street.
Although police we're informed she
was gravely injured, the girl refused to
go to the hospital.
The injured woman was a passenger
In an automobile operated by Mary Mac
Cracken, also %, of 4443 Holiday street,
Brentwood, Md, who was driving east
on the avenue when her machine was
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