Evening star., 1951-06-08
Driver Dies as Trailer
Ignites After Strikinq
Gasoline Tank Truck

A truck driver died today in the
blazing wreckage of his tractor
trailer. which burst into flames
after sideswiping gasoline truck
and crashing into pole at Saw
age. Md. on Route l.
Accidents in the Washington
area last night and early today
injured II other persons, includ-
ing seven Alexandria teen-agers,
homeward bound from Colonial
Beach.
Maryland State police said their
only clue to the identity of the
truck driver was South Carolina
license plates on the vehicle.
which was carrying watermelons
Police said the melon truck,
travelling north, sideswiped a
northbound gasoline truck which
had stopped at the Savage rail-
road crossing on Baltimore houle-
ward. The watermelon truck
tacknifed and skidded about rs
feet into the pole.
Flames and heat prevented
firemen from Laurel, Savage, Elk
ridge and Jessup from removing
the drivers body until As minutes
after the accident at am.
Tires on the gasoline truck
caught fire. but the driver extin-
guished the flames. Police identi-
fled the driver as James Wood,
80. of Baltimore.
Runs OF ut Curve.
The Alexandria teen-agers had
driven to Colonial Beach yesterday
evening for a swim. Most Of them
were students at George Washing
ton High School, where classes
ended yesterday for the summer.
Their car ran of No. highway
at q curve near the Prince Will
liam-Stafford County line and
crashed into a tree about 2:45 am.
Four of the injured were ad-
mitted to Alexandria Hospital in
serious condition. They are:
Carl Downs. Is, of 314 South
Columbus street, possible frac-
tured skull, broken ribs and back
injury; Nancy Palmer, 13, OF 1873
Ellsworth street, possible skull
fracture; her sister, Betty Jean
Palmer. Is, possible fractured
pelvis and broken jaw, and Will
liam Murphy, Is, of 805 North
Columbus street. possible hip
fracture.
Treated at the hospital for less
serious injuries and released were:
Robert L. Schwartz. Is, of 7o8
North Columbus street, who police
said was driving the car; Barbara
Mitchell. 13, of 118 Ellsworth
street, and George Starkey, 16. of
20 Yale drive.
Arlington Boy, 3, Hurt.
A 3-year-old Arlington boy was
injured critically yesterday eve
ming when struck by a car in 'front.'
Of his home at 1913 Colonial
terrace.
The boy. Robert Barbosa, son
Of Army Capt. and Mrs. Gilbert
Barbosa. was admitted to Arling-
ton Hospital with a compound
fractured right arm and head and
internal injuries.
Arlington police said the car
that struck him was driven by
Alfred Jennings Kelly, 20, of 5445!
North Twenty-second road. Mr.
Kelly told police he had just
started his car and driven about
500 feet when he heard a sound.
He got out and found the boy
had been struck, apparently by
the right front wheel of the car.
The Barbosa boy was pulling a
wagon and apparently had walked
unnoticed into the street from
behind some low hanging
branches, police said.
Man Hurt in Rockville.
Henry Dorsey, 7S, colored. of
Rockville, was injured critically
late yesterday when struck by an
automobile as he was walking
across West Montgomery avenue
in Rockville.
Montgomery County police iden-
titled the driver as Harry Khol-
hoss, Of Poolesville. He was not
charged. Mr.. Dorsey was admit
ted to Suburban Hospital with a
broken leg and head injuries.
Carlton L. Howard, 40, of 811
West Montgomery avenue, Rock
vile, was injured seriously when
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