Evening star., 1946-08-11
D. {. Traffic Experts
10 Attend Inquest
Into Bridge Crash

District trafflc experts and police
officials currently studying means OF
cutting down the serious accident
toll here plan to attend an inquest
into the fatal Arnold Line bus crash,
which probably will be held Thurs
day in the District Morgue.
During the inquiry into the death
OF William Friess, IS, of Arlington,
a bus passenger who died following
the August 2 accident, testimony is
which will help the ex.
perts devise means of averting such
accidents in the future, it was said.
DR.. Christopher j. Murphy, dep
uty District coroner, said last night
he believes the inquest into the
Arlington Memorial Bridge acci-.
dent will be held Thursday since
by that time the 43 persons injured
should be out of the hospital and
available to testify.
Crash Versions Scheduled.
These include the bus driver,
Robert Hills, 33, of BOT Tenth street
NV, who left Emergency Hospital
yesterday, and Stephen Lee Grover,
18, of 1900 Connecticut avenue NV,
driver of the car which collided with
the bus, causing it to crash through
the bridge guard rail to the roadway
below. The youth is now free under
81 600 bond on a charge of reckless
driving.
Although technically charged by
police as held for action of the
coroner" Mr.. Hills was released in
the custody of Joseph Arnold, presi-
dent of the buslines. Earlier he had
been exonerated of responsibility by
the police. Mr.. Hills suffered frac-
tured ribs and scalp lacerations.
Meanwhile, despite a new edict
Thursday calling for
the 30-day suspension of the permits
of motorists caught speeding at 40
miles an hour or more, 19 more Of
tenders were arrested between mid
night Friday night and 8 pm, last
night.
Many Face Suspension Action.
This makes approximately rs mo-
torists who face suspension action
by the Board Of Revocation and
Review for violating the regulation,
police said last night.
Nine of the 10 motorists charged
yesterday were arrested by precinct
officers and the remaining 10 by
the Traffic Division.
Police also reported that between
8 am. and 9 pm. yesterday there
were more than Is accidents in the
city, which resulted in some proper
ty damage to colliding vehicles, but
only minor injuries to persons in
volved.
One of these accidents was a COL
lision at Fessenden street and Belt
road NV. between an automobile
driven by Joseph Musumeci, Is, of
4ll0 Emery place NV, and one
driven by DR.. Alonzo Chatfield. 65.
OF 3424 Oliver street NV, police
said.
Physicians Sons Injured.
The physicians sons, William, Z
and Raymond, 6, suffered minor cuts
and were treated by their father
on the scene. Police said they
charged Musumeci at No. 8 precinct
with failing to yield the right of
way to- a vehicle.
Eomund E. Walsh, safety director
in charge of driver training for the
Military District of Washington, re-
ported that rigorous training for
Army personnel who operate mill
tary vehicles had cut in half the
number of accidents in the District
involving military vehicles during
the past six months.
If civilian drivers had to take
the tests and the training that our
Military District Of Washington SOL
diers have, there would be a great
decrease in accidents" he said.
Driving 753 trucks and cars 6,0OO,-
600 miles from February to July /
soldiers of the District had no fatal
accidents and no serious injuries In
the 95 minor accidents they did
have, the report said. OF the 95
accidents, AZ were fender scratches
and 10 others involved less than $25
worth of damage.
Private Cars Neglected"
Mr.. Walsh said that gross neg
lect" OF private car maintenance
and laxness in routfae inspections
OF cars by owners are important
Eixeml.Asan l.slw laAe