Evening star., 1951-01-03
|Motorist, IS, Called
To Inquest in Death
OF Aged Woman

IA WoAAoiI Wuo h2lACN, a AlObOl lot
was critically hurt and five street.
car passengers were sent to the
hospital in traffic accidents here
last night and early today.
The dead woman is Mrs. Ida
Fletcher, 90. colored, 345 Oak
dale street NV. She is the city,
first traffic fatality of the new
year.
She was struck at Pennsylvania
avenue and Twenty-f fifth street
NV. and died few hours later
at Emergency Hospital. The mo-
torist, listed as Maurice L. Fad,
Is, of 4416 Third street NV. was
scheduled to appear at coroner's
inquest today.
Innocent Driver Hurt.
Otis Brown, "a. of 4693 A street
Sc. was injured critically in an
accident climaxing 90-mile-an-
hour police chase after a stolen
car. which crashed into Mr..
Browns automobile at New Jersey
avenue and H street NV.
The chase began when Detec-
tives William Sartin and William
ZerWick of the Auto Squad spotted
the stolen car at Florida avenue
and Thirteenth street NE. 1t was
occupied by seven men. they said.
Disobeying instructions, the car
started away and led the police
men on a race to Fourteenth and
U streets NV. and then back
through v street and Florida ave-
nue. to the spot where it crashed
into Mr.. Brown. Several other
police cars joined in the chase.
Three Caught, Four Flee.
Three of the occupants of the
car were arrested at the scene.
Paul Kelly, 25, colored, of $3.50 D
street Sc, was charged with un-
reasonable speed and unauthor-
lied use of a vehicle. Maurice
Quander, %. colored, of 62l N
street NV, and another man.
not identified, were detained for
questioning.
The other four fed but were 10
Gated later and summoned to
headquarters for questioning to-
day.
Mr.. Brown is at Casualty Hos
pital.
The streetcar passengers were
injured when one car collided
with another last night at Barney
Circle Sc. then jumped the
track and crashed into a brick
building.
Five Go to Hospital.
Treated at Gallinger Hospital
were Beatrice Plowden, so, COL
ored, 705 Kenyon street NV;
Julia Wheeler, 35. colored, 3112
Park place NV: Ruth Jones,
80. colored. 1913 L street Sc;
jeanette Ayers. Is. of 1918 Buena
Vista terrace Sc. and Cleabert
Naylor. Is. of 3413 Twenty
fourth street Sc. Paul Switzer,
19, of 1929 B street Sc, said he
would see his personal physician.
Police said a streetcar driven
east on Pennsylvania avenue Sc,
by Jackson w. Clarke, AZ. of
Springfield, Va, had brake fall
ure, entered the circle and struck
a car which had stopped. Motor
man of the latter car was Floyd
D. Kaufman. A. of 5875 Rollins
avenue. Seat Pleasant. Md.
After colliding. Mr.. Clarke's
vehicle left the track and struck
the one-story brick building, hous-
ing terminal waiting and rest
roms. Building damage amounted
to about $1,000, and the street.
car damage $500. according to
police.
The streetcars were not
crowded. Neither driver was
charged.
Bicyclist Hit by Brother.
Howard Allen Burbridge, 16, of
near Lincolnia in Fairfax County,
was injured last night when his
bicycle was struck by an auto
mobile his brother was driving.
Police said the brother, Ronald
Ray Burbridge, 10, told them the
bicycle was in the middle of
Little River turnpike. The acci-
dent occurred near the boys home.
Howard was reported in good con-
dition today at Alexandria where
he was admitted with head in
juries and severe cuts.