The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-02
|2O4 PERSONS DIEI
 IN HOLIDAY TOLL
Over Half That Number Are Auto Victims Ten
 in Connecticut
fBy United Pressl

Motorists began the New Year by contributing more than half the vic- tiIns to holiday death toll of at least 204 persons.
 At least 132 persons periShed in traflc accidents on New Years eve or the first day of 1941. Despite the heavy holiday traffic and rain over much of the country, the National Sofety Council saw indications that motorists were paying greater heed to pleas for caution.
 The council said the New Year holiday traffic fatalities appeared to range 100 victims under the Christi mas holiday toll, on the basis of early surveys.
 Fire and suicide were other prir- cipal causes or death New Years day, taking more than 30 lives. Air. plane accidents, shootings and train auto crashes accounted for other fatalities.
 Four members Of 8 mountain skiing party in Utah were believed dead under an avalanche of snow and rock, but they were not included in the fatality list pending report of rescue workers digging for them in sub-zero temperatures.
 California led the states in fatal- ities with total of 24, 12 in traffic. New York had a toll of g, Illinois 20 and Pennsylvania 13. ;.a.
 Ten in Connecticut
 Ten persons died violently in Connecticut over the New Years holiday, a compilation showed to- day.
 Eight persons died in automobile accidents, a man was killed by 8 train at West Haven, and Berlin woman committed suicide.
 The automobile dead:
 Salvatore Rega, 72, New Haven, was killed when struck by a car operated by Anthony Strasrulaitis, Waterbury.
 John Piersor, 45. Cromwell, was injured fatally when struck by a hit-run car.
 Rudolf Schmelter, 61, New Britain, was killed while crossing a street at New Britain.
 John Kardonis, 25, Groton, was injured fatally while walking along 8 highway at Groton. Other auto- mobile deaths: DeSsere E. Levesque, 63, Hartford: Henry Richardson, "A, North Windham; John Bryan, 75, Plainville, and Alphonse Kastle, Warehouse Point.
 Stephen Traczewski, 56, was killed when struck by train while he was walking in an underpass at West Haven.
 Mrs. Minnie K. Day, 37, Berlin, committed suicide by inhaling il- Illuminating gas fumes in her home.
 31 in New England
 Boston, Jun. 2-(UP)-New Eng lands holiday death toll rose to 31 with the death at 8 hospital early today of Mrs. Bertha Berkowitz, 5S. of Boston, who was struck by an auto while crossing Q street near her home.
 Massachusetts led with total of IS deaths during the two-day period, eight as result of auto accidents. :
 In Woburn, Ronald Gibbons, eight, was crushed to death beneath an iron cemetery gate. Matthew Dom- brova, l2, of Barre. died of gum shot wound inflicted accidentally by a companion, and at Lakeville, Mrs. Cora Rawcliffe, 58, of Taunton. died in an auto accident in which nine persons were injured.
 Single deaths were reported in Rhode Island, New Hampshire and also in Vermont where Mrs. Ken- meth Norton, A, of Randolph was slain by man identified as 8 58 year old neighbor.
 There were three deaths at Port land, Me, 8 drowning, an auto vic- tim and a suicide-John E. Hunt, 9, of Peabody, Mass, g. student at Portland Junior college.
 Ten deaths occurred in Connect- cut.