Evening star., 1951-06-03
Driver Accused
OF Collisions
AfterLongChase
Pursuit Begins Near
College Park and
Ends in District

A grimly determined motorist
followed another driver for 80
miles or more yesterday afternoon
and brought about his arrest after
the fugitive car was said to have
side-swiped three AUTOMOBILES.
The chase began on the Balti-
more Boulevard near College Park,
Md, and ended about an hour
later at Thirteenth and Florida
avenue NV. with the arrest Of
Keith Smith, colored, a laborer.
of 214 Seventh street NE.
George Milton Clinedinst, 38, Of
SAC Ridge Road. Greenbelt, Md.
a railroad brakeman, took up the
chase, he told police, after he saw
a car sideswipe the automobile Of
Winston E. Sawyer. of 7002 Dart
mouth avenue, College Park.
Enlisted Help.
Smiths car, it was said, turned
out of filling station near Col
lege Park and kept going toward
Baltimore after badly damaging
Mr.. Sawyer's automobile.
Mr.. Clinedinst followed the car.
and enlisted the help of State
Policeman William Crist in an
other automobile. The two lost
the fugitive car, and turned back
after a chase of 10 miles.
Mr.. Clinedinst told police he
was returning to College Park
when he saw Smiths car emerge
from a side road and start toward
Washington. He followed the
other car into the city.
Truck Was Sideswiped.
On New York avenue NE, Mr..
Clinedinst said. the other motorist
noticed he was being followed and
began to turn from one street to
another. Near Howard University,
the motorist said, the lead car
sideSwiped a red delivery truck
and kept going. The owner of the
truck was not identified immedi-
ately.
At Columbia road and Sherman
evenIe NV, it was said, Smiths
car pulled the bumper off an au-
tomooile waiting for a red light
and driven by Willie Thompson,
rs, colored, of 5000 New Hamp-
shire avenue NV.
Mr.. Thompson joined the chase
while Mr.. Clinedinst stopped to
pick up Pvt. Roger M. Rooney of
No. 10 precinct before resuming
the pursuit.
Pulled Alongside.
At the intersection of Florida
avenue and Thirteenth street NV,
lpofice said, Mr.. Thompson pulled
alongside Smiths car and yelled
for him to pull over because, "You
hit me and you're going to pay
mel"
Smith stopped. He was taken
to No. Is precinct and charged
with failure to stop after striking
MIR. Thcmpson'S car, reckless driv-
ing and failure to secure a Dis
trjct permit or tags. Smith was
to go tc court tomorrow. Bond
was set at $565.
Two policemen were reported
recovering from minor injuries
suffered when their patrol wagon
was in collision yesterday with a
truck at First street and Louisiana
avenue NV.
Admitted to Hospital.
They are Pvt. Frank S. Klabba,
%. of No. Precinct, 122 Huron
drive, Forest Heights, Md, and
his partner. Pvt. George C. Of
futt, Al, of 9315 Walden road,
Silver Spring, the driver.
Pvt. Klabba was admitted to
Casualty Hospital with chest and
knee injuries, while Pvt. Offutt
was treated for cuts. Police re-
ported that the truck, loaded with
empty boxes, was driven by Mar
shall Smith, colored, 46, of 319
G street S.W. The patrol wagon
was badly damaged.
Pvt. Klabba figured in another
story involving a patrol wagon last
May Is. He was one of two officers
who chased a speeder at IS miles
an hour. The fleeing automobile
crashed through a street barri-
cade on construction Job. The
speeder was overtaken and ar
rested.
Two Women Hurt.
A District woman was seriously
injured yesterday when her car
went out Of control on the Marl-
ooro Pike near Andrews Air Force
Base, careened off a tree and
smashed into another car coming
from the opposite direction.
Prince Georges County police re-
ported.
The woman, Juanita Register.
26, OF 1877 Florida avenue NE.
suffered a broken right leg and
cuts on the forehead.
She was taken to Casualty Hos
pltal along with her passenger.
Elizabeth Biggs. 18, of the same
address. Miss Biggs was not badly
hurt.
The driver of the second car
Joseph B. Carpenter, of 1916 Kill
bourne place NV, did not REQUIRE
disqualification, police said.