Evening star., 1942-01-28
Man, Pulled 253 Feel
By Streetcar, Suffers
Serious Injuries
Five Others Are Hurt
In Street Accidents
Of Night and Morning
D. c. Traffic Toll
Killed in 1942 ------------- 8
Killed in same period Of ls4l 13
Toll for all OF 1941 e5

A southbound streetcar knocked
down a pedestrian, William Wells,
81, Of 1919 Spring road NV, at
Fourteenth street and Spring road
shortly before 7 am. today and
dragged him 253 feet, according to
police measurements, before 1t was
brought to q stop.
Mr.. Wells clothing was caught in
the undercarriage of the streetcar's
front.step. He WAS notadiscovered
until Roy Vernon Davis, 23, of 5719
Fourth street NV, the motorman,
heard his cries and applied the
brakes. ~ 'ar+esf-,
Rushed to Emergency Hospital by
ambulance, Mr.. Wells was found to
have suffered a fractured left shoul-
der and several broken ribs. His
condition was described as serious,
but not critical.
Vapor Obscured Victim.
Pvt. T. B. Shipman OF the police
accident prevention unit said the
motorman explained he did not see
Mr.. Wells at the right side OF the
track because steam vapor, caused
by the early morning rain on the
outside and heat inside the street.
car, covered the window except for
the space cleared by the front win
dow windshield wipers.
Mr.. Wells. according to the motor
man, did not come within the range
Of his vision through the clear por-
ton Of the window.
Mr. Davis told police he didn't
know Mr.. Wells had been struck un-
til he heard the right front wheel
guard ofsthe streettcar drop, fol-
lowed by Mr.. Wells cries for help.
The streetcar, meanwhile, had trav-
eled down hill over wet tracks for
an estimated two-thirds Of q city
block before it was stopped
Police said Mr.. Davis had been
a motorman for eight months. They
attributed Mr.. Wells survival to the
fact the streetcar was one of the
old models with 4 higher undercar-
riage than the new streamlined
cars brought into service in recent
years.
A number Of other accidents oc-
Cured during the night and early
morning on streets wetted by an
overnight rain that turned to snow
In the morning rush hour.
May Have Fractured Skull.
James r. Norfolk, jr.. ~, OF 1914
Massachusetts, avenue Sc, was in
critical condition at Casualty Hos
pital from a possible skull fracture
suffered when his motorcycle struck
an automobile at Third and Z
streets SW, shortly before mid
night. Edna Kellas, 23, Of 1908 Cal
ton avenue NE, passenger in the
car. was treated at Providence Hos
pital for facial lscerations. Her con-
dition was not serious. Police said
the automobile was driven by Mil
dred A. Claim Of the Calton avenue
address who was not injured.
Two Hurt In Collision.
Two cars collided at Illinois ave-
nue. and Farragut street NV. At
10 o'clock last night, resulting IN
injuries to two young women. They
were Louise Miller. II, Of 4703 Geor-
gia avenue NV, who suffered lace
rations OF the head and knee, and
Maxine Marcus, 10, Of 81l Decatur
street NV, possible fractured ribs,
internal injuries and wounds OF both
legs. The injured were rushed to
Casualty Hospital.
Theodore Del Borrell, %, Of 6700
block of Fairfax road. Bethesda.
Md. was injured when his car
crashed into the center abutment Of
the viaduct on New Jersey avenue
Sc. just south Of E street. The
ambulance from No. rescue squad
took him to Emergency Hospital
where he was treated for q broken
leg and throat injuries.