Evening star., 1930-09-26
PROBE IS BEGUN
IN INJURY Of q
IN BUS ACCIDENT
Every Passenger Is Hurt
When Car Hits Tree
Near Alexandria.
DRIVER AND AGED WOMAN
IN CRITICAL CONDITION
Blinded by Headlights and Faulty
Brakes Are Reasons Advanced
as Likely Cause of Crash.
Special Dispstch to The Star.

ALEXANDRIA, Va, September 26.-
An investigation into the cause of the
accident at Hybla Valley. three miles
south of this city, in which 81 persons
were injured, IL seriously late last
night. was started by officials of the
Richmond Greyhound Lines, Inc, this
morning. L. c. Major, Southeastern
regional manager Of the bus company,
who lives here, Is In charge of the probe
Eleven of the '1iured persons were
still under treatment at the Alexandria
Hospital this morning, of them re-
ported in a critical condition. Another
with serious injuries and 10 others with
minor hurts continued their Journey
South after receiving hospital treat
ment.
Near Capacity Load.
The bus left its terminal in WASH
tngton at 10:15 o'clock last night and
the crash occurred shortly before IL
O'Clock. The vehicle, with a near
capacity load, had just travelled overs
the portion of Snake Hill, which is
under construction, and was proceeding
down grade at q good rate of speed
when the crash occurred, according to
without swerving from its course
down the hill, the bus failed to take
the sharp left turn at the entrance to
Hybla Valley, and piled head-on into
giant oak tree. The entire forward
part Of the vehicle was totally wrecked,
the engine being forced back into the
body of the bus. The oak tree, which
Is about 5 feet in diameter nd is a
landmark in this section, stood the force
OF the terrific impact without even being
splintered.
Most of the injuries occurred when
the windshield showered flying glass on
every one in the bus. No one escaped
unscathed. The driver, Norman Dove,
So, OF route 5, this city, and Mrs. Wade
II. Allen, So, of New York, who was
In the seat behind the operator, were
the most seriously injured.
Headlights Binding.
Dove was unable to do much. talking
concerning the crash, but L. C. Major,
the bus company official. reported that
ne claimed headlights had blinded him.
None OF the passengers questioned had
any idea of what occurred, most of
them reporting that they were asleep
When the accident happened.
Capt. Haywood Durrer Of Fairfax
police said today that Dove told him
the brakes failed. F. c. Moultrup, so,
Of Herndon, Va, who refused hospital
treatment until after he had aided
Others from the wrecked bus, said thst
he did not notice the brakes applied
and that the tree was struck full force.
The capacity of the Alexandria Hos
pital was taxed as the injured began to
arrive In private automobiles and an
ambulance sent to the scene. Drs.
Moore, Amos and Beattie were called
and with Miss Fanny Carter. superin-
tendent, Miss Helen v. Eller, night
supervisor. and a stan of nurses we're
more than two hours tending the in
jured.
NeighbOrs Render First Aid.
Mrs. Landon Painter and others of
the neighborhood in which the crash
occurred rendered first aid, applying
ammonia and aiding those takcn from
the wreck Until they could be taken to
the hospital E. B. Constantine of
Austin Farms, Stafford, Va. and his
son, z. B. Constantine, jr, were behind
the bus when It crashed and were the
first on the scene. They removed Mrs.
Allen from the wreck and took her and
several Of the more seriously hurt to
the hospital.
Also aiding in the task Of conveying
the victims to the hospital were w. A.
Shaw, Milton T. Dawson Of Mount Ida,
and Lincoln Phillips of All Hume
avenue, this city. It was Phillips who
called police and notified the hospital
Fairfax County officers, headed by
Capt. Durrer were on the scene soon
after the accident, and with Sergt.
lawrence Padgett and Patrolmen Cur
tbs. McCleary and Elmore OF this city
took charge Of the bus and the baggage,
which was strewn about.
Conditions in the interior of the bus
showed that almost every seat was torn
from the floor. Many Of the injured
received nose injuries when thrown
against the seat in front. Leg In
NN@
the passengers reported they were
hurled several seats ahead by the force
Of the collision.
Brass KnuckIes Found.
A touch of humor was injected into
the situation by the finding OF pair
of brass knuckles and a partially flned
pint bottle Of what apparently was
whisky by the officers who investigated.
1t was supposed that some of the pas
seneers hastily rldded themselves OF
these when the accident happened.
A list of those injured, with their
Injuries, follows:
Norman Dove, 80. driver of the bus,
of Route S. Alexandria. Va: fractured
skull, chest crushed, severe decorations;
critical.
Mrs. Wade H. Allen, 63, New York;
fractured right arm and leg, possible
internal injuries; serious.
Mrs. Charles Himmler. ~, South
Pittsburgh, Va: lacerations to face and
head, body bruises.
Elmer Farnsworth, Orlando, Fla; Sc
we're decorations and bruises.
Mcdrie Thomas, 81, colored, Marion
County, s. c.: severe lacerations.
William Hart. So, Jacksonville, Fla;
severe cuts.
Arthur Murphy, East Boston, Mass;
cuts to face and head.
F. G. Moultrup, so, Herndon, Va;
scalp lacerations.
Otto Davis, 80, Pensacola, Fla; right
leg broken.
Grtfin Brooks, colored. Hemingway,
S. c.; severe scalp lacerations and other
cuts.
Hattie Jefferson. coiored. So. Cen
tralia, Va; severe decorations and
bruises.
Mrs. Courts Baker, Philadelphia. Pa:
broken nose and decorations TO the right
ankle.
F.U. Doane. Richmond, Va; bruised
and decorations.
Herbert Brooks, colored, Columbia,
g. c.; decorations.
kenneth Hartsell, Kenwood, w. Va;
shoulder injuries.
De witt Thompson, Hall River, N. c.;
1acerated leg.
d. l. McLendon, Brunswick, Ca;
cuts 10 both hands.
Harry Howard, New York CITY;
1Sroken nose. cuts to face and legs.
Romeo Robinson colored. Columbia