Posted on 09/29/2006 4:46:47 PM PDT by Smogger
PALMDALE, Calif. -- A car driven by a 90-year-old woman ran a red light in Palmdale Friday and hit a school bus carrying disabled students, leaving 11 people injured, including a boy in critical condition, officials said.
The crash occurred about 8:50 a.m. at 10th Street East and East Avenue R, said Los Angeles County Fire Department Inspector Sam Padilla.
The bus was southbound on 10th Street East when Palmdale resident Dorothy Meyer, who was heading west on East Avenue R, went through the red light and crashed her Lincoln sedan broadside into the bus, causing it to overturn, said California Highway Patrol Officer Joe Zizi.
Eight children with special needs were on the bus, along with a special education assistant and the bus driver, Palmdale School District Superintendent Roger Gallizzi said.
They were heading to Palmdale Learning Plaza, he said.
The 13-year-old boy, who was pinned in the wreckage, was airlifted to Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, said CHP Officer Henry Ross, who is in the Antelope Valley office.
He said the child was expected to survive despite severe injuries.
The seven other students and two adults on the bus all suffered minor injuries, County Fire Inspector Jason Hurd said.
The children ranged in age from 8 to 14. Meyer also suffered minor injuries.
Ross said Meyer's injuries were "not life-threatening," but she "was very distraught, emotionally, I believe. She'll have to deal with this."
Meyer apparently was at fault, Zizi said. According to a televised news report, Meyer has a valid driver's license and she was to be cited for running a red light, but other charges could possibly follow.
Ross said no charges would be filed until an investigation of the accident was complete.
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People run red lights all the time around here and it has nothing to do with age. She should be treated like anyone else that did this. She shouldn't get consideration for her age but she shouldn't be punished for it either IMO.
Yeah? Do they overturn school buses full of disabled kids all he time too? Because I would imagine if I pulled that stunt I would be led away in shackles.
Sadly, bad accidents have happened.
Mind if I jump into this one? Oh, I just did! Two separate subjects here, IMO. 1) running a red light, 2) elderly drivers. We'll all agree some drivers of every age run red lights. While risking an accident, most of the time they get by with pure luck (and so do their potential victims).
Every elderly driver does not run through red lights...probably never did in all their years behind the wheel.
Do any states have a law against driving after a certain age? Should they? I've never heard of any.
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