Newspapers / The Journal-Patriot (North Wilkesboro, … / April 7, 1949, edition 1 / Page 11
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jpoffic Fatalities * w _ mmm la For Tho Month Of February Total 67 over the same month last rear when 87 persons were killed Is St fatal accidents, the Motor Ve hicle Department announced to »he February figures brought traffic deaths for 1949 to 132, an Increase of 23 per cent over the 99 persons killed In the same two-months' period last year. The Department expressed grave con cern over the tremendous rlBe in traffic deaths and called on the State's motorists to exercise more caution in their driving to the end that accidents may be pre vented. Total accidents for > the State during February numbered 1, 287, an Increase of 17 per cent oyer the 1,069 accidents reported during February of 1948. Injur ies for the month showed a 20 per cent Increase—688 persons injured in February, as com pared with 472 for the same month last year. Of the injured. 187 were severely hurt, and 401 only slightly. The report showed that 24 of the fatalities were- pedestrians, who literally "walked themselves to death," (an Increase of 63 per cent over pedestrian deaths for February of last year); 20 per sons died in motor vehicle col lision accidents, (an increase of 20 per cent); 12 were killed when the vehicles in which they were riding ran off roadways, (increase of 42.-per cent); three persons were killed when their vehicles overturned on roadways. (increase of 800 per cent); three lost their lives wften their ve hicles struck fixed objects; two persons were fatally hit while riding their ibicyelee; one died when his vehicle was struck toy a train, and two others died in non-eolllsion accidents. The Department expressed con cern over the rise in pedestrian fatalities. During the month, there were 71 accidents involv ing pedestrians, with 24 of the walkers being killed and 67 oth ers injured, 13' severely and 44 slightly. More pedestrians under 14 years of age were killed and injured than any other age group. The Department pointed out that the pedestrian must learn to obey traffic rules and cooperate Wjth motorists iu preventing ac cidents. The education of the ye* destrian in safe walking habits, however, should in no way de tract from the responsibility and necessary alertness of the motor vehicle operator. A total of 496 accidents, with 10 persons killed and 131 injur ied, occurred in cities and towns. Durham, Gastonia, Halifax, Wil mington, Madison, Salisbury, Clinton, Pinnacle, Warrenton, and Wilson reported one fatality each. In rural areas, a total of 791 accidents were reported, claiming 57 lives and injuring 457 others. Of the rural accidents, 432 occur red on U. S. highways, 181 on state highways, and 178 on coun ty or local roads. Accidents don't just happe"n, the report stated; they are caus ed—not one cause, 'but many. Here are some of the violations causing accidents during Febru ary: Driving on wrong side of road, not in passing, caused 247 accidents, 20 of them fatal. Ex ceeded stated, speed limit caused 214 accidents, 12 of them fatal. Did not have right of way was the cause for 261 mishaps, 5 of them fatal. Failure to use bright headlights caused 98 accidents, three of them fatal. A total of 111 drivers were operating their cars while under the influence of alcohol, with cw0 of them being involved in fatal accidents. Caldwell, Cleveland, Robeson, Rowan, Sampson, and Wake counties led in fatal itie3 for the month, with three persons killed in each county. Burke, Chero kee, Johnston, Moore, Now Han over, Onflow, Folk. Union, War ren, Wilkee, and Wilson report ed two death! each. One fatality was reported from these oohn tles: Alexander, Bertie, Bruns wick, Buncombe, Catawba, Chow an, Davidson, Duplin, Durham, Forsyth, Franklin, Gaston, Gates, Greene, Halifax, Harnett, Hoke, Madison, Northampton, Pasquo tank, Perquimans, Randolph, Richmond, Rockingham, Stokes, Transylvania, nad Wayne. No deaths were reported from 56 counties. o — Norfolk Policemen Named In Number Racket Indictment Norfolk, Va.—A Corporation Court grand jury yesterday in dicted 24 Norfolk policemen on charges of accepting bribes as part of a payoff system to cover for the numbers racket. •Shortly after the indictments were returned, suspension of the 24 and six other policemen was announced by acting police chief C. H. Dalby. Dalby said the suspensions re sulted from an investigation of the Police Department by him self and Special Counsel E. Pryor Wormington. The Indictments returned' yes terday charged that each of the 24 patrolmen accepted $10 from Patrolman C. A. Withrow be tween Nov. 1 and Dec. 10, 1948. Withrow testified last month before a special grand jury that he had accepted and distributed bribes for W. Carvel Benson, who has often been arrested here on numbers lottery charges. The special grand Jury, named to In vestigate possible corruption in the Police Department and vice conditions in the city, returned an indictment for bribery against Benson but took no otfylr direct action. Benson's trial ended in a hung jury. He will be <tried again April 27. Withrow was one of the six policemen suspended yesterday along with those indicted in Cor poration Court. Patrolman W. E. Failes, Withrow, and Dalby all presented testimony to the jury before the indictments were re turned. B<nd for the indicted patrol men was set at >1,000 each. A, Beautlfiul Horn* Is a Mors Pleasant Place in Which to Live . . . Fix Up Now! J Division 8-23 of Brooklyn, N. Y., won the 1*48 Naval Reserve trophy m the beat submarine training unit in the United States. Use of peanut Tines for hay will sharply curtailed in east ern North Carolina this rear, since commercial peanut acreage will fee reduced considerably.
The Journal-Patriot (North Wilkesboro, N.C.)
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April 7, 1949, edition 1
11
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