Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-06-08
Crash
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on the bus, it was stated, suffered
some injury.
Three men were removed to Bal
timore hospitals, while three others
were under treatment in the Fort
Meade Hospital. Others were given
first aid treatment for cuts, bruises
or burns on the scene.
On leaving the road, the bus
knocked down pole carrying high
tension electric lines. The wires
fell across the wreckage with a
sputter of sparks and apparently
set the machines on fire. Electric
power in the area between Muirklrk
and Laurel failed.
Traffic Halted Half an Hour.
The scene of the accident was
about 10 miles from the District
line-about miles this side of
Laurel. Md Traffic along the four
lane highway was stopped for half
an hour as firemen battled the
flames.
The driver of the bus was listed
as Harry L. Miller, 1911 lockwood
road, Silver Spring, Md. His in
juries were slight He was held on
a manslaughter charge pending an
investigation of the accident, State
police said
The bus had left Baltimore at
$50 pm. and had stopped at Fort
Meade to pick up a number Of
soldiers, bound for Washington on
weekend leave 1t was travelling at
a good rate Of speed, police were
told, when it came into the stretch
of road near Muirkirk.
Skidded Is Yards.
The automobile had been pro-
ceeding north from Washington
toward Baltimore and made left
turn, apparently heading into the
driveway of Curfew's Cabins, a
tourist court.
The two vehicles met with ter
rife impact, then, locked together,
skldded along the road for about
rs yards. and went off into a ditch.
The bus turned over. knocking
down the electric pole.
Those in the bus fought their
way out from the flames. One SOL
der. after escaping. went back into
the bus to make sure that every one
had gotten out.
The flames spread rapidly over
both vehicles. Those who tried first
to get near enough to pull the bodies
| of the automobile passengers out of
the wreckage were driven back by
the intense heat.
Just as the blaze reached a peak
of intensity, a gasoline tank in the
bus eXploded-Sending out sheets
of flame which endangered the crowd
| that had gathered. One fireman
was burned in this explosion. 1t
was two hours before the blaze had
been completely put out.
Firemen Near Scene
Among the injured was Pvt. Will
liam Angel, 191st Tank Battalion,
Fort Meade. He was taken to st.
Agnes Hospital in Baltimore, later
| transferred to the hospital at Fort
| Meade.
II was sitting in the back of the
bus talking to one of my buddies."
he said. 81 did not see the accident
coming on. Suddenly, felt the bus
careen and go over. People were
struggling on top of me. climbed
out back window which was
smashed. The bus was on fire and
I ran"
Pvt. Frank Barcia, of the same
tank battalion, was admitted to the
same hospital with pelvis injuries,
spinal injuries and a possible skull
fracture
At the time of the accident,
volunteer flremen from Laurel and
Arbutus were travelling along the
highway. returning to their stations
| from a flremenS carnival at
Branchville. These companies were
the first at the scene and James
Mccain, Is, LanSdoWne, Md one
of the firemen, was treated at the
Baltimore hospital for burns.
Charles Robertson, driver for the
Arbutus company, said:
| One of the boys happened to
look back and shouted Fire We
thought at first filling station had
exploded. Flames and smoke were
shooting up in the air. We rushed
back but it was impossible to make
a rescue There was a man lying
about 25 feet from the wreck. I
tried twice to reach him, succeed
ing third time.
"He was dead and his clothes were
on fire. I dragged him away and
put out the fire. 1t was the most
horrible accident I have ever seen. u
The bodies were identified al
Gasch's funeral home, Hyattsville
by Alex Baumgartner, who said Mis-;
Monnett was a roomer in his home
and G. w. Bell, who said Mr. Owens
resided at his home.
The three soldiers treated at Fort
Meade Hospital were identified as
Sergt. Herbert Brimer, Pvts. Frank
Lazlo and Robert Laro, all from
Hartford, Conn. They suffered Sec
ond-degree burns.