Evening star., 1937-11-21
Man P|unges Through Roof
of Taxicab at Bennjnu
Bridge.
BElTSvILLE ACCIDENT
IS FATAL TO WOMAN
Dies En- Route to Hospital-Five
Children Suffer Slight
Injuries.
(Picture on Page A-5.)

William N. Keyser, So, a roofing
worker. was smashed to death last
night when he hurtled through the
roof OF an overturning taxicab at the
west end of the Benning Viaduct on
Benning road NE.
Earlier in the evening a collision of
two automobiles on the Baltimore bou-
levard at Beltsville, Md, had resulted
In the death Of Mrs. Ella Oroian, 40.
who lived on farm near Beltsville.
Mr.. Keyser. who had moved with his
wife late yesterday to 1909 I street
NE. was riding with three other men
In cab which police said was driven
by Walter Colborn, ~, Of 3416 Seven
teenth street NV. The latter was
held at the eleventh precinct for a
coroner's inquest. He and the other
passengers We're only slightly injured.
Passed Cars Nearing Bridge.
Witnesses said the cab picked up
speed after stopping at . trafnc light
at Fifteenth and H streets NE. and
passed several cars as it approached
the viaduct along Benning road. A
few hundred feet from the viaduct,
witnesses said, it smashed into the
coping alongside the street car tracks
In passing another automobile.
One Of the wheels of the cab
slipped onto the street car tracks
and then the machine hurtled through
the air back into the trafflc lane,
overturning in midair, police were
told. 1t struck the pavement on its
nose, rolled over on its side and
then skidded on its top for several
feet.
As 1t rolled over again to right
itself, Mr.. Keyser hurtled through
tho cab roof and smashed his head
on the pavement, witnesses said. His
body landed 10 feet from the cab.
He was pronounced dead on arrival
at Casualty Hospital 1T OILS pm.
Other passengers in the cab gave
their names as Luther Watson and
Earl Vermillion, both Of GOT Sixth
street NE, and Raymond Grissett,
705 Tenth street NE. They said they
had met Mr.. Colborn in 1 tavern
and he had volunteered to drive them
to Maryland.
Mr.. Keyser, native Of Washington,
was employed by the Allied Roofing
Co., 9l2 New York avenue NV.
Dies En- Route to Hospital.
Mrs. Oroian died en- route to Cas-
ualty Hospital in . Bladensburg res
cue squad ambulance. Her fve chill
dren, John Edward. IA: William, 10;
Lucas, 9; James, S, and Irene, 13,
were injured slightly in the wreck.
Roy Nicholson Of Beltsville, driver
Of the car in which Mrs. Oroian and
her children were riding, told police
he was attempting to make q left turn
into the Fairland road when another
automobile crashed into his machine.
Maryland police said the driver Of
the other car abandoned it after the
accident. Edward o. Harris, ~
Randolph place NV, whose cab
drivers Identification card was found
In the abandoned car, according to
police, but who had reported his
machine stolen, later was arrested in
Washington and held at the Second
precinct for Maryland police. A
warrant charging him with reckless
driving was issued by Maryland
authorities.
Burned in Car Fire.
In another accident last night,
George L. Russ, jr., 81, Of 1918 Quincy
street NV, was burned about the
face and hands when an automobile
in which he was riding climbed an
embankment, overturned, and burst
into flames after colliding with
another machine on the Baltimore
boulevard near Laurel, Md.
John ]. Berberich, 81, Of 1901 Mass
achusetts avenue Sc, driver Of the
car in which Russ was riding, and
another occupant. James B. Upton,
%, Of 1899 Ingleside terrace NV,
escaped with slight hurts, as did the
driver of the second machine, Glenn
r. Mccain, ~, Of Severn, Md.
State Policeman Thomas johnson
charged both operators with reckless
driving. He said both cars were new.
Mr.. Russ Is the son of George L.
Russ, assistant manager Of the Home
Security Life Insurance Co. Of Wash.
ington.
Eight-year-old Francis Kick, 50
Monroe street. Alexandra, Va, re-
ceived q slight brain conclusion and
cuts and bruises when knocked from
his bicycle by an automobile near his
home.