Evening star., 1940-06-23
Man Is Killed
In Wild flight
Of Hit.Run Car
Woman Hurt, 6 Autos
Struck Before Chase
Ends in Crash

Ends in Crash
Fleeing after he ran down q
woman In the Northeast section, a
hit-and-run driver fatally injured
another pedestrian yesterday after
noon In q mad chase across the city
during which his sedan, witnesses
said, crashed into four automobiles
and two taxicabs before 1t was dis
abled in a collision with q streetcar
at Connecticut avenue and @
street NV.
Joseph Nappo. SO, of 1850 Tenth
street NV, died at Emergency Hos
pital last night of a fractured skull
and internal injuries, suffered, wit
nesses said. when he was run over
at Ninth and M streets NV.
The pedestrian, 1t was said, was
struck as the sedan swung right into
M street on the wrong side.
His death was the 35th traffic IA
tality recorded here this year. At
this time last year the traffic toll
was 40.
DTINCT r CucU Ov DOW.
The alleged hit-and-run driver,
identified by police as Richard
Samuel Nestlerode, rs. a laborer, of
1927 Maryland avenue NE, leaped
from his wrecked car on Connecti-
cut avenue and fled on foot ahead Of
pursuing motorists and hackers un-
til he was felled by blow from the
fist Of Motorcycle Policeman Gordon
w. Roland, on traffic duty at the
corner.
In addition to being held for the
coroners inquest. Nestlerode was
charged with driving while drunk
and two cases Of hit-and-run.
The tow-headed young laborer
told police, they said, that he had
been drinking with friends in South
west Washington prior to his wild
ride and could recall few of the de.
tails Of what happened.
1t was hours before police of Nos.
8, 2 and 3 precincts could piece
together details of the chase, which
occurred between 4 and pm. while
the streets were choked with Satur-
day afternoon traffic. At one time,
1t was said, the pursuit consisted Of
several motorists, taxicab driver,
motorcycle rider and a scout car
from No. 2 precinct.
Woman Hit Crossing Street.
The chase began at Twelfth and
H streets NE, when Nestlerode's
car, police said, ran down Mrs. Ed
ma Mitchell, 40, colored, OF s14
Twelfth street NE, as she was
crossing H street. The hit-and-run
car, witnesses said, made a q turn
on H street and headed west. The
tag numbers were furnished police,
who broadcast a lookout.
! Meanwhile, the woman was taken
to Casualty Hospital by a passing
motorist, where she was admitted
for treatment of contusions to both
legs and shock. Her condition was
described as fair"
At Sixth and N streets NV, It
was said. Nestlerode's car hit the
rear of machine operated by
George B. McDowning. AZ, of 1915
S street NV. Mr.. McDowning said
Nestlerode backed up, and then shot
forward, sideswiping his car and
running through a red light. Mr.,
McDowning pursued the fugitive.
witnesses at Ninth and M streets
NV. said they saw the green sedan,
allegedE driven By Nestlerode. COM
ing south on Ninth street before
turning west into M street. The
sedan, it was said, swung to the
south side of M street and ran down
Mr.. Nappo.
Man Thrown Beneath Wheels.
George Van Horn of the 900 block
OF M street NV. said the impact
threw Mr.. Nappo on the radiator of
the sedan, from which he fell be-
meath the wheels. Mr.. Nappo was
taken to Emergency Hospital, where
he remained unconscious until his
death.
At Scott Circle, witnesses said, the
sedan, coming north on Sixteenth
street. ran through a red light and
partly around the circle in the
wrong direction before sideswiping
sedan and a taxicab and knock
ing over barricade for a street re.
pair job. The sedan, it was said.
NIT an automobile and taxicab at
Sixteenth and @ streets before pro-
ceeding west on @ street, which is
one way in the other direction.
Leroy Hanback, of 1904 Harris
street NV. gave chase on his mo-
torcycle and Samuel Dorsey, a taxi
cab driver, also Joined the pursuit.
AS the sedan crossed into Con.
necticut avenue it was struck in the
rear by a north-bound streetcar and
swung around.
Rear Wheel Knocked on.
The sedan then crashed into a car
operated by Paul Hurlbur5 of 1910
Eighteenth street NV. witnesses
said A rear wheel was knocked of
the sedan and the partly demolished
car came to a halt against q lamp
post on the northwest corner of the
intersection.
Nestlerode, apparently unhurt,
leaped from the sedan and fled
north on Connecticut avenue. A
cab driver. police said. tried to halt
the fugitive and was knocked down
by a blow. Meanwhile, Policeman
Rowland took up the chase. The
policeman said he overlook Nestle
rode and felled him with a punch
in the neck.
After being treated at Emergency
Hospital for a cut lip and an abra-
sion on the nose, the prisoner was
taken to No. 3 precinct.