Evening star., 1942-01-01

fatalities used by The Star are
gathered BY reporters covering
coroner's inquests to prepare the
series, why Must They Die?"
BY JOHN H. CASSADY, Jr.
Ninety-hve persons were kIlet
In trafic accidents in the Distric
during l941, giving the city IS NOR
fatalities than in 1910. when Wash
ington established the best safet!
record Of all cities with soc, 900 popu
lation or more.
The National Capitals rapit
growth during the last year. and th'
resultant heavy increase in vehicu
lar and pedestrian trafnc, con-
tributed to the increase. which CAM
In the face of many measures de-
signed to make the city safer.
Seventy lone Of the l94l victims
or more than two-thirds of th'
total-were pedestrians. and thi'
fact again emphasizes that educa'
ton Of the pedestrian still remains
the major problem. Thirty-three o.
these pedestrians were crossing
streets not at crossWalks when the!
were struck doWn-and II stepped
In front of death vehicles from be.
tween parked cars.
Thirteen victims were children un
der 10 years of age, and II others
were IS years old or older. Largest
number OF death-car drivers-4O-
Was in the 1920 age group. Pleas.
ure cars took down more lives thar
any other type Of vehicle, account.
ing for IS deaths. In all but thYe'
cases. the drivers were men.
Trafhc dangers were at their peal
during the two-hour period from
9 pm. to 8 pm. Twenty-Five per-
sons lost their lives in accidents dur.
ing those two hours alone.
Forty-six drivers involved In fata
crashes we're exonerated by coron-
er's juries, and II others released
without inquests being held. Fifteer
were held for grand jury action. ano
II for Police Court action under
the Negligent Homicide Act. In
quests in four cases still are
pending. and the years iast fatality
"A hit-and-run case-still Is under
investigation.
The chronology for lo4l follows:
January
!. Adolphus Richardson, eolored
IS, Of o07la Rhode Island avenue
NV At 1910 am. December 81
while riding bicycle. ran into the
side of q truck at Rhode Island ave-
nue. and Ninth street NV. Died
January /. Weather clear. Driver.
SO. colored, with IL years driving
experience, exonerated by coroner s
jury
2. Benjamin A. Duckett, colored
81, 609 Neal court S.W., about
pm, January 4, struck by automo-
bile while crossing Fourth street
between F and G streets S.W., after
stepping into the street from be-
tween parked cars. Weather clear
Driver. colored, IS. with nine years
driving experience, held by coroner'i 4
Jury for Police Court action under
Negligent Homicide Act. Case still
pending.
,. Andrew T. Dent. IT,. II, Of 1911
Buchanan street NV. at 1920 pm.
January I, while standing at the
rear Of his stalled automobile on
Kansas avenue near Taylor street
NV, struck by automobile proceed
ing without lights. Died January 5
Weather clear. Driver, ~, with II
months driving experience, and who
was said to have been drinking just
prior to the accident; held by coro-
ner's jury for Police Court action
under Negligent Homicide Act. Con-
victed.
4. Boyd Unkle, 70, of 709 Tenth
street Sc, at 11:45 am. January 2,
struck by streetcar while crossing
Eighth street Sc, near 1 street,
after stepping into the street from
between parked cars. Died January
7. Weather raining. Streetcar op-
orator. 30, with p years driving ex-
perience. released by coroner's Jury.
& John Jordan, 10, Of TOT Newton
place NV, at $40 pm, November
Z. 1910, struck by automobile while
crossing Newton place near New
Hampshire avenue NV, not in q
crosswalk. Died January I. Weather
clear. Driver, So, with 20 years ex-
perience, held by coroner's jury for
Police Court action under Negligent
Homicide Act. Found not guilty by
jury.
s. Walter Edward Norman. COL
ored, Al, Of 1400 Twenty-eighth
street NV, at 1880 am. January
II, struck by automobile while cross
ing E street Sc, at Second street,
in the crosswalk Weather clear
Driver, colored, 80, with Is years
driving experience, held by coroner S
jury for grand jury action. Pleaded
guilty to negligent homicide.
7. William Carpenter, 66, colored
Of 1709 Seventh street NV, at 7:45
pm, January 2, struck by automobile
while crossing Logan Circle between
Vermont and Rhode Island avenues
NV. against the proper signal.
Died January IL. Weather raining
Driver, Is, with two and one-hali
years. experience, exonerated by
coroner's jury.
8. Frank Brogan, 40. of 1924 New
Hampshire avenue NV, at 7:10
pm, January II, while a passenger
In an automobile fatally injured in
collision with another automobile
at New Hampshire and Eastern ave-
nues NE. Weather clear. Driver OF
other car. 20, with one and one-half
years Of driving experience. held by
coroner's jury for grand jury action
Found guilty by jury of negligent
homicide.
8. John Marshall, 68, Of 1929 L
| |0MirinI Arfir