Evening star., 1941-03-25

ne report on All autopsy at Jne
District Morgue was being awaited
today by police. Public Utilities
Commission and Capital Transit Co.
investigators seeking to determine
the cause of streetcar crash
shortly after midnight at Seventh
street and Massachusetts avenue
NV. which resulted in the death of
a motorman and injury to at least
Is persons.
Dr.. A. Magruder Macdonald. Dis
trict coroner, announced the autopsy
would be performed this afternoon
on the body of LLOYD H. Frazier, 80,
of 1917 P street NV. operator of an
eastbound Benning car which
plowed into the side of a Georgia
Alaska avenue car. Mr.. Frazier was
pronounced dead at the scene by DR..
William Gordon, Emergency Hos
pital ambulance physician. after
flremen of the rescue squad had
cate the body from the wrackage,
In statement on the accident,
1t. William j Liverman of the police
accident prevention unit said he
had interviewed John Cone, 30, of
2ll6 Wilson boulevard. Arlington,
Va, in Emergency Hospital, where
he was being treated today for
possible fracture Of the left leg,
lacerations and shock, and obtained
an indication Mr Frazier might
have been on the verge of collapse
from an internal disorder imme-
diately prior to the accident.
Schultz Asks Report.
Meanwhile, Chairman Schultz of
the Streets and Traffic Subcommit-
tee of the House District Committee
called on the Police Department for
report on the crash. He said if
the report showed any evidence of
negligence he might ask his sub
committee to investigate the acci-
dent
Lit. Liverman said Mr. Cone,
trainman employed by the Capital
Transit Co, told him he was riding
near the front of the striking car,
and, sensing the imminent crash,
yelled to the motorman to stop
the car. Then. 1t. Liverman said
he was told, Mr.. Frazier's knees
seemed to buckle, and Mr.. Cone
jumped for the controls, but sue
ceedec only in pulling off the brake
lever before the impact.
Mr. Cone estimated the speed of
the cal at about Is miles per hour,
1t. Liverman said.
An inspection of the car today
showed no evidence of mechanical
failure insofar as could be deter
mined, 1t. Liverman added. He
said tests conducted by transit COM
pany investigators before A. Blaine
Miles, principal inspector of equip
ment and track for the Public Utili-
ties Commission, showed the air
tanks supplying the brakes to be
in working order, but pointed out
| damage to the front of the car pre-
| vented accurate checks of the air
controls.
Two Confined to Hospital.
Mr.. Cone was one of the two pas
sengers confined to Emergency Hos
pital. The other, Miss Patricia AL
lison, 80, of 300 Whittier street NV.
who received lacerations, abrasions
and shock, also was reported in sat-
isfactory condition.
Mr.. Frazier, who had been en-
ployed by the transit firm about
! five months. was native of Gettys-
burg, Pa, and was married. His
wife was out of the city.
Curtis L. Van Dornes, SO, of Alex
andria, Va. was listed as operator
of the northbound car, which was
carrying eight passengers. 1t was
tilted to a 45.degree angle, and the
body was torn loose from the wheel
trucks by the impact.
Mr.. Van Dornes slid out the open
door of his car. He told police his
car was moving slowly, having
picked up two passengers just be-
fore entering the intersection.
THE first thing I knew, heard
the crash," he said. He broke three
windows to help people out of the
car, police were informed.
Windows Kicked Out.
Other passengers kicked out win
dow panes to get out, while the more
than score of occupants of the
striking car left by the rear doors.
Emergency and Casualty Hospital
amDulsnces responded, but a num-
ber of the injured already had
been taken from the scene in auto
mobiles and taXicabs.
Raymond Medley Of ss1t street