81 Y.O. Drives Through Restaurant Killing 1

[matcom]

<snip>

PORT RICHEY - Charles Krizek, 81, waited until his wife came out of the grocery store before backing his car out of its parking space.

The next moment was an explosion of shattering glass, twisting metal and screaming.

With his car in reverse, Krizek had hit the gas instead of the brake. The white Chevrolet Lumina slammed through the front of a restaurant and accelerated through it. The crash killed an elderly woman inside the restaurant and sent two children to the hospital Saturday afternoon.

"I thought maybe it was a gas explosion or something," said David King, who was managing Tequila Bay liquor store next door when the crash happened at about 12:30 p.m. He rushed into Brunches Cafe and saw the car in the rear. Anthony Corio, an off-duty St. Petersburg police officer, also ran into the restaurant at 7045 Ridge Road.

http://www.stpetersburgtimes.com/2004/05/30/Pasco/Car_careens_through_c.shtml

[Wcross]

1. Yikes! People should re-evaluate their ability from time to time!

I was down at the grocery store a couple of weeks ago and this older woman (late 70's to early 80's) somehow managed to total three other cars in the lot. I walked up when the police arrived and eavesdropped on the conversation they had with her. She said the car just wouldn't stop, it just kept going! Thankfully nobody was seriously injured but the poor lady did get punched in the face by her air-bag. I suspect she mashed the gas pedal thinking it was the brake.
My dear old grandfather had three accidents before we could convince him to stop driving. He pulled out in front of people too late for them to stop.

[pansypoo53219]

3. somtimes i SWEAR

older people are driving with a death wish.

but i also blame the size of pedals in new cars. CAN YOU MAKE THEM SMALLER PLEASE! i drove many cars made in the 70's during the 90's. NOW THOSE WERE PEDALS.

[WoodrowFan]

5. same here

My Grandmother FINALLY stopped driving in her early 80s when she backed into a car in a parking lot without realizing it, and drove away. Someone got her license plates and called the cops.

[Loonman]

2. I'm gonna catch heat for this

After 70yrs, drivers should have yearly eye checks and some form of remedial driver training.


"hitting the gas instead of the brakes" is getting to be a common cause for 90% of senior accidents.

[CO Liberal]

6. I Agree

There are a lot of seniors in and around Pueblo that should have turned in their licenses years ago....

[Catholic Sensation]

7. at least you have the cajones to suggest it

our politicians are so worried about offending the AARP that they wouldn't dare make sure people are mentally and physically fit to be on the road.

I'm for testing everyone after the age of 65 (I'm slightly more radical than you are ;)) to make sure they're fit to drive a car.

edit: spelling, my morning cocaine binge hasn't kicked in and I'm still asleep

[Lars39]

4. I was in a Goodwill store with my two toddlers when a car came through

the front of the store. A little girl was trapped under the car for quite a while. :( We were on our way to the other side of the store when I happened to pause to look at something. :scared:

[spinbaby]

8. They drive because there's no alternative

Many older people know they're no longer safe on the road but they keep on driving because, often, there's no real alternative transportation.