Evening star., 1940-04-08
Rail Crossing
Closing Sought
After 4 Die
Woshingtonions Ki|Iee
As Train Hits Car
In HyottsviIIe

The deaths OF four young WASH
ingtonians early yesterday at the
Melrose grade crossing in Hyatts-
vile had shocked Prince Georges
County leaders into launching a
campaign today to eliminate the
hazard.
suggestions were made that the
crossing-termed by some the most
dangerous spot in Maryland-be
closed entirely until money could be
obtained to build an underpass.
The Hyattsville Town Council will
discuss the accident at its meet
Ing tonight, it was learned from
Councilman, and another official re-
vealed that the Maryland Public
Service Commission will be asked
to provide some safeguard at the
crossing.
DR.. James I. Boyd, Prince Georges
County CMd) medical examiner,
said that he plans to write the COM
mission this week and ask for the
provision of further protection in
order to avoid "a recurrence" of yes
terday's fatal accident.
Called Definite Hazard"
Terming the crossing a definite
hazard" DR.. Boyd said that while
he would make no specific sugges-
tions. he felt there should be some
recognition of the hazards at the
crossing.
The four were killed a few min
utes after midnight as their car
bumped onto the tracks at the OBJ
scure crossing. directly in the path
of a 16-car Baltimore & Ohio ex-
cursion train, rolling out of WASH
ington and headed for New York.
Train Smashes Sedan.
They were killed instantly as the
train smashed their light sedan to
pieces, hurting the four bodies clear
of the wreckage. It was hours be-
fore they were identified as:
Leo E. Handley, 20, of 6121 Sew
enth place NV, an electrician.
Lorenzo Early Nealis. "a, Of 6338
Piney Branch road NV, a steam
filter.
Miss Josephine Smith. %, of 6124
Seventh street NV, a secretarial
student.
Mrs. Frances Dickinson, q, of 715
Dahlia street NV.
There were no witnesses to the
accident and police were unable to
learn any of the circumstances. The
grade crossing is located between
the Hyattsville overpass and Mount
Rainier, at a point where narrow
roads winds from the extension Of
Bladensburg road across the tracks
to the parallel extension of Rhode
Island avenue.
The four young people had ap-
parently met by accident during
the evening" Mr.. Handley Is said
to have left home after announcing
he would be back early
Left Home to Attend Movies.
His family said he had collected
the first weeks wages he had made
for some time on Saturday. Appar-
emily, he encountered Miss Smith,
a friend, who lived in the neignbor-
hood, somewhere during the eve
ming. She had left home alone to
60 to the movies, her family said.
How they happened to be with
Mr.. Nealis and Mrs. Dickinson is
not known. The four had visited
some night clubs in Prince Georges
County short time before the ac-
cident.
Frank Brown of Baltimore was
the engineer of the train, which had
left Union Station about IL minutes
before the accident. The train was
travelling at speed estimated at
so miles an hour when it reached
the crossing.
The watchman, who is on duty at
the place during the day, leaves at
10 pm. There are guard gates,
but they are hand operated. A
single red lantern and a warning
bell are the only safeguards at the
crossing.
The engineer said he did not see
the car until it was too late and
then threw Or lis brakes full force.
Engine Damaged.
The automobile was dragged $50
feet and the bodies were strewn
along the way. The train went sew
eral hundred yards before coming to
q complete stop. The engine was
badly damaged by the impact, but
did not leave the track. It was
necessary to send out relief en-
gine from Washington before the
train could proceed.
A drivers permit was found in
Mr.. Handley's pocket and he was
identified a few hours later by his
father, Robert F. Handley, a Gov
ernment Printing Office machinist.
No identification was found on the
other bodies and it was hours before
police could learn their names.
Political Leaders Back Drive.
The move to eliminate the cross
ing hazard met with approval of
political leaders in the county. The
county commissioners meet tomor-