Evening star., 1948-06-07
Auto Explosion
Kills Arlington
Man al Wheel
Bill Denekos, 33, Dies
After BIost Rips Car;
Bomb Believed Cause

William A. Denekas, 33, owner
of the Old Dominion Neon Sign
Co., Arlington. was killed by an
explosion which reduced his au-
tomobile to wreckage at about
11:15 am. today.
Police said they believe dyna-
mite bomb had been placed in the
car and arranged t oexplode when
the ignition was switched on.
The explosion occurred as Mr..
Denekas, who is the father Of two
children, was about to drive his
car away from 5837 North Twenty
first street, where he is roomer.
Arlington police were trying to
determine whether the bomb they
believed caused the blast was
detonated by Mr.. Denekas pressing
the starter or by his weight on
the seat. Apparently the explosive
was directly beneath him.
Rescuer Describes Blast.
He was taken in a county ambu-
lance to the Arlington Hospital
where he died in the emergency
room.
The sign company which police
said Mr. Denekas owns is at 3434
Washington boulevard, Arlington.
John Harrison, Treasury Depart
ment employe who lives at 1929
North Twenty-first street, arrived
soon after the blast. He said the
springs of the front seat were
tangled around Mr.. Denekas legs
by the force of the blast. Mr.. Har-
rison said he had to get hack saw
to cut through the heavy wire form
ing the edge of the seat to free Mr..
Denekas.
Mr.. Denekas was still alive. but
unconscious, Mr.. Harrison said.
Roof of Car Blown Upward.
The roof of the car, a l941 Nash
sedan, was blown upward, the win
dows were blown out and the hood
and trunk covering were forced
open.
Even the hub caps and tire rims
were blown off," Mr.. Harrison said.
Il had to work with hack saw and
plyers to get the wire from around
the mans legs.
Il didn't try to lift him out.
Pretty soon the Fire Department
and police cars arrived"
Mr.. Harrison said Mr.. Denekas
roomed at the home of Mrs. Lorena
Strader, but that only two Strader
children were at home at the time
of the explosion.
Estranged From Wife.
Mr.. Denekas was estranged from
his wife, Mrs. Helen v. Dekenas.
She said this afternoon they sep
arated six or seven months ago. She
said she is now employed at the
Dardanelles Restaurant in Falls
Church.
Their two children, William An
with their grandmother. Mrs. N. A.
Staples, at 1922 Fillmore street, Ar
lington.,
Mrs. Denekas' brother. Newton B.
Stables, said Mrs. Denekas called
the Strader home at about noon
and received the first word of what
had befallen her husband
Mrs. Strader is the estranged wife
.of F. D. Strader, a Washington
policeman, Arlington police said.
Mr.. Strader was informed of the
explosion and went to the scene.
Thought Blast Was Road Work.
Mr. Harrison said when he heard
the explosion he thought it was the
result of blasting in the neighbor-
hood, as some road work was in
progress nearby. His wife, he said,
came running up from the base
ment, thinking the explosion had
been in the kitchen.
Mr.. Morrison said he looked out
of the window then and saw the
wreckage of the car in the street.
He said it appeared Mr.. Denekas
must have sat directly above the
explosive His shoes we're blown of
and the lower part of his trousers
we're gone.
| Veteran First at Scene.
When the blast shattered the
quiet of the tree-pordered street Of
modest homes, the first person to
reach the wrecked automobile was
John Davis, 81, co1ored, of 1903
U street NV, who was sodding the
lawn at 5841 North Twenty first
street. He is an Army veteran.
Il went down to see If any one
was in the car" he said. This man
was all doubled over. 1t seemed
he was trying to help himself out.
His legs were all mangled. I
(See EXPLOSION, Page A-2J