Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-01
THREE CARS CRASH,
INJUR|NG EIGHT
Two Machines Side SWiped,
Third Rams Into Them in
Effort to Avoid Collision.

collision on the Lee Highway between
Cherrydale and Falls Church, Va, at
$3.50 o'clock, this morning, eight persons
were rushed to Washington hospitals,
where it was said that three of them
are seriously injured.
Three of the injured are at George
town University Hospital, two of them
being in an unconscious condition when
taken there early today. They are:
william w. Pickett. 81 years old, of
Fort Myer Heights, Va, suffering with
an injury to the head and possible in
iuries about the legs and body; Miss
Fay Keeter, 20 years old, of Park Lane,
Va, reported In a semi-conscious con-
dition today and suffering from an in
Jury to the head, and Robert Payne, rs
years old, 1881 Park road, suffering
from an injury to the head and possible
internal injuries. Payne. 1t was stated
at the hospital, remained unconscious
until late this morning.
X-Rays to Be Taken.
Further examinations of the injured
at Georgetown Hospital were to be
made today and X-rays taken to de-
ternnine the extent of the injuries. Due
to two of the patients being uncon-
scious when brought in, 1t was diff
cult to make a complete record OF. their
cases, it was pointed out
At Emergency Hospital there are
three others suffering from painful
but not serious injuries, it was reported
there.
They are Jerome K. Oscar. 81, and
Mrs. Ruth Oscar, 30, of East Falls
Church, each suffering from decorations
on the head, while Oscar also had a
number of teeth knocked out. The
other injured is Louis Redmond, "a, OF
sos Twenty-second street, suffering from
decorations and possible fracture of the
right leg.
Sideswiped Another Car.
Redmond and the three injured at
Georgetown Hospital were in the car
with Pickett, the driver. Two others
also in the car with Pickett, he said
Mrs. Marjorie Payne, % years old, OF
1451 Park road, and Mrs. Marie Payne
% years old, of Clarendon, Va, also
were treated at Georgetown Hospital
but did not remain.
Pickett gave brief description of the
accident at the hospital today. He said
he was going east along the Lee High
way when he Sideswiped another auto
mobile and then crashed into the third
one. He said that was about all he
knew of the accident, explaining that
it happened so quickly and that short
time afterward he was being taken to
the hospital.
An investigation of the accident by
Policeman Raymond Crack of the Ar
lington County force, Deputy Sheriff
Paul Herman Of Fairfax County and
| Town Sergt. Walter Mitchell of Falls
Church, resulted in information to the
effect that the original collision was
between cars operated by Pickett and
oscar, the third car, operated by Mrs
| B. w. Rust of Falls Church, coming to
grief when it swerved to avoid the
other two machines.
Both Are Overturned.
In the car with Pickett were Mrs
K1eter. Redmond, Payne and the two
young women whose injuries were sale
to be slight. This car, police were told
was proceeding toward Washington
from the Chimney Villa dance hall or
the Lee Highway between Falls Church
and Mortified when 1t collided with the
automobile of Mr.. and Mrs. Oscar
driven by the former, which was pro.
ceeding toward Falls Church.
The force of the collision was of Suf.
t1cient violence to overturn both ma
chimes. Mrs. RuSt's car, it was said
was also proceeding toward Washing
! ton and when the driver observed the
collision she swerved to the side of the
road, sideswiping the other machines.
Police were told that none of the
occupants OF this car was injured but
; during the excitement incident to get
ting the injured to the hospital the I'M
injured were given transportation with
out the authorities learning their
identity until this morning when Mrs
Rust called at the jail to claim her car
The accident occurred in front of the
home of William w. Rucker, from
whence came the first call for assist
ance. Mitchell was the first to reach
the scene. He took Pickett, Mrs
keeter and Payne to Georgetown Hos
pital and the Falls Church Volunteer
Fire Department furnished transporta-
ton to Emergency Hospital for the
others.
No Arrests Contemplated.
When Crack arrived on the scene he
took charge, having the machines OF
Pickett and oscar removed from the
road and the automobile of Mrs. Rust
towed to the Arlington County jail
where 1t was held to await the claim of
the owner.
No arrests had been made today nor
were any contemplated by police be-
cause OF the difficulty of placing re-
sponsibility for the crash. 1t would be
possible, Crack said, for Oscar to swear
out a warrant for Pickett or Pickett
Tor Oscar, but because of the condition
OF the participants he was unable to
learn their versions of the crash. Oscar,
the only one with whom Crack talked,
is said TO have told Crack that 1t looked
n NNa1 la all
at the same time and that it hap
pened too quickly for him to say Just
who was to blame.
Two Motorists Held.
Out Of the maze of New Year eve
traffic that crowded the streets OF Wash
ington until far into the early hours
police today we're taking stock OF many
accidents in which 10 people were in
jured, one seriously, and the arrests of
two motorists for major violations.
One Of those being held, George
Brown, colored. "a years old, OF 458 N
street, led police chase, during
which his car was said to have struck a
finally apprehended in Georgetown and
booked for leaving after colliding and
reckless driving.
Frank Wedge, % years old, of Airing
ton, Va. was arrested short time later
by Motor Cycle Policeman j. c. Bailey
of the Traffic Bureau on a charge of
driving while drunk Wedge posted $500
for his appearance in court. Police said
he was the ouly motorist arrested for
this violation last night.
Man Hurt by Patrol.
The most seriously injured in the
r19ic
ored, AS years DID, of 124 Browns court
southwest, who, according to a police
report, walked into the side of a patrol
car driven by Pvt. Oswald A. Salmons
of the fourth precinct, in the 500 block
OF First street southwest. Thompson
is in Gallinger Hospital.
An Interior Department attorney,