Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-02
YOUNG EXPLORER
IS KILLED BY CAR
Death Brings Demand That
Line at Curve Be Moved
to Avoid Accidents.
BY a Stan Correspondent of The Star.

BY a Staff Correspondent of The Star.
ARLINGTON, Va, May 2.-Shortly
after learning Of the death last night
of Crawford johnson, 20-year-old
Washington explorer, whose motor
cycle is said to have skidded and thrown
him in the path Of an automobile on a
curve on Mount Vernon avenue, the
Hume School Civic League met and
passed a resolution requesting the
county directing engineer to either re-
move white trafi1c line that was re-
Gently put there or place 1t In the mid
die of the road.
johnson was injured fatally yesterday
when, while negotiating the turn at the
point where Mount Vernon avenue
energies on Arlington Ridge, his
machine skidded, throwing him directly
in front of an automobile operated by
Milton Fairfax, II, of Alexandria, Va.
The front wheels Of the automobile
passed over JohnSon's body, fracturing
his skull and causing internal injuries.
Policeman John e. Conway Of the
Arlington County force was directing
traffic at Mount Vernon avenue and
Columbia pike, short distance away,
and was called to the scene. He rushed
the injured youth to Georgetown
Hospital, where he died short time
later.
Fairfax Is Arraigned.
Fairfax was arraigned before Judge
Harry r. Thomas in Police Court this
morning and the case continued until
May 8. Although he technically was
charged with murder, he was released
on his personal bond to appear In
Police Court on that date.
In an explanation of the charge,
Judge Thomas stated that the statutes
of Virginia prohibit his being charged
with a lesser offense where a death
is involved. On the statement of a
number Of witnesses, however, to the
effect that Fairfax was not to blame
that it was not necessary to either
incarcerate him or require bond for
his appearance.
johnson was the son Of Mr.. and
Mrs. Charles Hubert johnson, 2517 Con-
necticut avenue. He gained consider
able fame during the past Winter as
a member of the expedition that ex-
plored the Mayan ruins in Yutacan.
He had written several papers on his
findings there and as q result Of his
work had been elected the youngest
ulCAnUCA Va eAAG &SAP4oAOAo SAA@ Va @NS"
York.
According to the youths father, he
was taking one of his papers to show
a relative in nearby Virginia when the
accident occurred. He had been offered
three chances to join exploring expedi-
tions during the coming season, the
father said.
At last nights meeting Of the Hume
School Civic League 1t was pointed out
that the line that was painted on the
curve a week ago Is so placed as to
leave O narrow lane for westbound
traffic and q wide lane for eaStbound
trafic. Three accidents have occurred
at the top of the hill since the line
was placed there, members claim, as
a result of the narrow margin left at
the top Of the hill.
Miss Gertrude Crocker stated that
she had notified County Directing En-
gineer G. L. Kinnier about this condi-
ton and that he had stated the line
was painted that way advisedly In
order that Washington-bound traffic
might be speeded up by permitting
three cars abreast at that point.
In the resolution passed last night,
the engineer also was requested to
furnish rejecting SLOW" signs at the
intersections of Frazier avenue and the
entrance to Oakcrest with Mount YER
non avenue.