Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-27
Automobile Carrying Three
Occupants Demolished at
Chestnut Street Crossing.
Bodies Thrown in Ravine.
DAUGHTER OF ONE VICTIM
SURVIVES WITH INJURIES
Mrs, Ida E. Hopkins and Mrs. Mary
E. Johnson, 60-Year-old Neigh
bors, Identified Dead in Tragedy
Which Occurred Just Before
Midnight.

Two women were crushed to
death and third was badly injured
late last night when a Baltimore
g. Ohio express train demolished
their automobile at the deadly
Chestnut street crossing, in Take
ma Park. one of the few grade
crossings left in the District.
The dead are Mrs. Ida E. Hop
kins, 1917 Gales street northeast,
and her neighbor, Mrs. Mary +.
Johnson, 1921 Gales street north
east. Each was so years old. Miss
Edith Hopkins, 33-year-old daugh-
ter of one of the dead women, was
picked UP from the wreckage by
f1remen from Silver Spring, Md.
and taken to Walter Reed Hospital.
Later she was removed to Emer-
gency Hospital.
She is suffering from fractured
skull, fractured pelviS, and is bad
ly cut and bruised. At an early
hour this morning she was half
conscious and hySterical. She was
unable to tell of the crash.
Mrs. johnson was driving the car
Lieut.. j. E. Bowers of the thirteenth
precinct, the first oficer to arrive on
the scene, reported that he was unable
to find any witnesses Of the accident.
Scene of Other Accidents.
Police of the thirteenth preciRst wis
investigated a report that the crossing
signal was not working reported that
when they arrived on the scene the nght
was fiashing and the signal bell was still
ringing. The train had stopped snort
distance down the track.
The scene of several fatal accidents,
the crossing has repeatedly been the
object of attack by Takcma Park civic
associations which fought for Its ellmina-
ton. =,
The train was travelling at about 10
miles an hour when 1T hit the machine.
it was estimated. It was an express
train from the West and carried no pas
sengers. The engineer jammed on the
brakes, but the automobile was carried
so feet and thrown of the track and
down a 30-foot embankment. The train
came to a halt near the Takoma Park
station. Later it proceeded to Newark,
N. j., without coming into the station.
Physician on Scene.
Or. Jerome j. Krick of Emergency
Hospital was the first physician on the
scene. and pronounced the two women
dead. Their bodies we're badly man
rled. DR.. e. K. Richardson of Takoma
park picked up an automobile license
tag from the Wreckage. which gave the
frst clue TO the identity of the vic
tins. Lieut.. Bowers later found tiny
brown purse, bearing Mrs Hopkins
name. In the center OF the railroad
tracks.
Coroner hewitt viewed the bodies and
announced that an inquest would be
held at IL 80 tomorrow morning.
James A, Johnson, husband OF one
Of the dead women, an employe OF tne
Government Printing once. collapsed
At the morgue while he was waiting for
the bodies to arrive.
Husband Tells of Visit.
He said the women had taken him
IN work Yesterday afternoon, later going
In the home of Miss Nettie Campbell
a sister Of Mrs Hopkins. who lives In
Takoma Park. They were to return 10Y
him at II o'clock. When they dld no.
arrive johnson returned home, where
he was apprised Of the accident BY The
star
Mrs. Hopkins, a widow. made hcl
nome with her brother, j. w. Selby. al
the Gales street address. He also wa
in ignorance of the accident until III
formed by newspaper men, then wen
with Mr.. johnson to the morgue.
The accident occurred about IL AZ
o'clock. The first arrivals on the scene
found only the wreckage and Miss Hop
kins. Later automobile headlights were
turned down the tracks and the search
begun which revealed the bodies.