Evening star., 1940-09-24
) Persons Are Killed
In Traffic Accidents
On Nearby Roads
Woman Fatally Hurt
In Crash at Underposs
In Silver Spring

In Crash at Underposs
In Silver Spring
Automobile accidents in Mary
land and Virginia late last night
and early today took the lives Of
three residents of the Washington
suburban area.
In the District. the new accident
prevention unit was kept busy in
vestigating 80 accidents, in which
seven persons were injured. A num-
ber of those hurt in the city were
children.
A 4l-year-old woman beauty shop
proprietor of Takoma Park, Md,
was fatally injured this morning
when her automobile crashed into
iron pillar supporting the rail-
road trestle over Georgia avenue in
Silver Spring. Md.
The other victims, an Arlington
man and a Capitol Heights woman,
died of injuries received about IL
clock last night when they were
struck by a large trailer-truck while
changing a tire on the automobile
in which they had been riding on
U. S. route II, about 3 miles south
of Buchanan. Va. The dead, ac-
cording to the Associated Press, are
Noah Stevens Mathena. Al, of Ar
lington and Mrs. Virginia Martha
Reynolds. 26. of Capitol Heights.
Auto Hits Pillar.
Mrs. Elna Allen. the Maryland
victim, died in the Washington San
itarium about am She was driv-
ing north on Georgia avenue about
IN. when her car struck the sup
porting column She was taken to
the hospital by the Silver Spring
Rescue Squad Her injuries were
said to include a fractured skull.
Montgomery County police said
Mrs. Allen apparently was driving
at high rate of speed because the
machine was practically demolished
by the impact. Ofiicers on the case
said Mrs Allen was the owner Of
beauty shop at 8206 Saratoga ave-
nue.. Takoma Park. and that they
had learned she had sister in Colo
RADIO and A brother in New York
Describing the accident in which
Mr. Mathena and Mrs Reynolds
lost their lives, State Trooper Paul
j. Puckett said the man was killed
| instantly and the women died en-
route to Roanoke hospital
According to the officer, the auto
mobile of Mr.. Mathena was occu-
pied by three other persons, none of
whom was injured.
Tail Light Declared Obscured.
The trooper quoted George Frank
lin Kellam. %. of Ridgeway, driver
of the truck. as saying the baggage
compartment lid on the rear of the
automobile was raised. obscuring the
rear light The officer said the
truck driver told him he did not see
the automobile until he was almost
upon it.
Kellam was later lodged in the
Fincastle Jail on a charge of in
voluntary manslaughter.
The bodies of Mr.. Mathena and
Mrs Reynolds were taken to Roa-
noke funeral home
Police listed the other occupants
Of the car as Ramsey Caldwell and
Mamie Caldwell, both of Cloverdale,
and COME Maizena, also of Airing
ton.
Nine Charges Placed.
The Districts new accident in
vestigation squad. during its second
day of operation, placed charges
against nine Of the drivers involved
in the citys 80 accidents These
charges ranged from reckless driv-
ing to operating on suspended
permit.
Complete studies were made on
each accident-including pictures,
measurements and statements by the
drivers involved-and were for
warded to police headquarters for
filing. All this information will form
the basis for studies of the causes
Of accidents here.
activity of the new squad yesterday
and Sunday was being cleared up.
Cruisers attached to the squad are
being sent directly to the scene OF
accidents by police radio orders
They have been told to file their
reports with the precinct in which
the accident occurs and to put what
ever charges that are to be made on
the books of that precinct.
Court Days Designated.
Four days-Tuesday, wednesday,
Thursday and Friday-have been
designated as court days for the
squad. Each ofiicer has been given
one of these days to present all his
cases in Police Court. 1t will be
possible for drivers who are jailed
or who cannot 60 to court on the
arresting oficer's regular day to re-
quest immediate trial.
The accidents which the squad in
vestigated yesterday included four
in which children were injured. In
one case, hit-and-run charges were
brought against the driver OF a car
which allegedly struck child.
The victim of this accident was
John H. Hamilton, Z, of 1909 Vir-
ginia avenue NV, who was taken
| to Emergency Hospital for treat
ment of . fractured collarbone and
lacerations. He was Knocked down
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