Posted on 10/20/2005 6:55:34 AM PDT by devane617
ST. PETERSBURG - A 94-year-old motorist struck and killed a pedestrian Wednesday evening, then drove about 3 miles with the body lodged in the windshield until he was stopped at a Sunshine Skyway tollbooth.
The driver told officers he thought the body had fallen from the sky, said St. Petersburg police Officer Mike Jockers.
"He had no idea he had been involved in an accident," Jockers said. "He doesn't totally understand what happened."
The crash occurred about 8:30 p.m. when the 52-year-old pedestrian attempted to cross 34th Street S from east to west near 46th Avenue S, witnesses told police.
The pedestrian made it across two of the southbound lanes before he was hit by a 2002 Chevy Malibu, which was traveling about 45 mph, police said.
The impact severed the pedestrian's lower right leg, which remained in the street. His head and arms went through the windshield, while the rest of his body flipped up onto the roof of the car, Jockers said.
"The driver continued southbound, as the eyewitness said, like nothing happened," Jockers said.
As the car approached the toll plaza, the toll taker thought it was a prank, until he saw the blood.
When the driver stopped, the body fell into the car, Jockers said.
A veteran traffic investigator, Jockers said it was one of the most gruesome scenes he has worked.
Neither the name of the driver nor the name of the victim was released Wednesday.
The victim had been living in a motel on 34th Street S. Friends said he had been trying to get to McDonald's for a bite to eat, Jockers said.
The driver, who lives in Pinellas Park, told police that he was headed home. Pinellas Park, however, is miles in the opposite direction.
"Obviously, he was confused," Jockers said. "Incredibly confused."
The driver was taken to Bayfront Medical Center for evaluation.
He will probably not face criminal charges, as he appeared unaware that he had been involved in an accident, Jockers said.
The only crime committed here was by the guy who gave him a driver's license.
Unbelievable.
"The driver told officers he thought the body had fallen from the sky"
Yea, I can relate...I HATE it when that happens.
The nurse that killed the guy here in Dallas was young, After the guy died, she called a friend to help her remove this dead "white guy" from her car. She later bragged to friends how she killed the guy, and was eventually caught and tried.
No, not really.....I've "met" folks like him coming up an 'exit'the wrong way onto Rt.19 down here...SAD!
But I thought it rained cats and dogs in Fla.??
I do remember that.... I didn't know about the part of her calling for help to get the guy out of the windshield but do remember that she knew he was alive for quite a bit of time after getting hit....
I just moved back to Texas from the Tampa area. It was a daily chore to watch out for the old folks driving. Parking lots were incredible. You learn to keep your eyes open.
WTFIIWFL
I remember that.
The nurse kept going out to the garage to see if the guy was dead yet.
Speechless ping.
This guy should not have been driving at all. Where are his family or doctors? Exactly who is responsible for taking away the license of people who are medically unfit? I have gotten into arguments with my MIL because her mother is still driving even though she has fainting spells and a very bad heart. I have already told my parents that I will have no problems taking their vehicles away because their grandchildren could be in the car they hit or the crosswalk they blow through.
If the driver had kids and grandkids...WHY ARE THEY LETTING 90 YEAR DAD/GRAND-DAD DRIVE?
"He will probably not face criminal charges, as he appeared unaware that he had been involved in an accident, Jockers said."
Without criminal charges how do they plan to ensure that this person does not drive in the future? Another driver that deserves the full force of the law, yet won't be looked at as anything other than being in an accident. This is precisely the situation that I talk about when discussing how society treats DUI as the only dangerous driving......
Exactly! The caught her and placed her on trial. She was convicted, but I don't recall if they pursued a Hate-Crime charge. It was talked about, but I do not remember the details. I will see if I can dig up a link to the story.
If I remember right the judge put a press gag order on that case.
The young nurse called her boyfriend over and had him help dispose of the "homeless mans" body after he died of dehydration on her car hood stuck in her windshield.
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This situation is really bad for all involved. the 94 year old man was clueless. WOW!!
No kidding. I wonder if this 'confused' elderly man has any children who are ignoring the fact that their father is driving around in such a state as to think the DEAD BODY in his windshield fell from the sky! These stories make me crazy. We are not doing any of these old people a favor by not taking their cars away when they get senile.
Which begs the question: why did he think that a body falling from the sky made it OK to drive around with said body hanging out the windshield?
Not far from where we live. Very busy highway, pedestrian at night trying to cross the road was taking his life in his hands, no matter if the driver was 93 or 33.
Now the fact that the driver thought he was heading for Pinellas Park, and was instead headed for the Skyway...that's scary, totally opposite directions.
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