Posted on 10/21/2005 5:27:35 AM PDT by Millicent_Hornswaggle
ST. PETERSBURG - A 93-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.
Agreed, it's just sometimes getting them to see the reason for hanging up their keys. My grandfather loved anything with four wheels and an engine. Started with his V 8 Ford, on through his Hudson terraplane...Etc. would sit and regale you for hours with all his favorite cars. But after he had a few "near misses" in his early eighties , he tearfully turned in his license. He loved to drive, but he also realized it wasn't such a good idea anymore. In our culture to stop driving is symbolic of surrendering your mobility, and hence, your freedom. I don't think it was the driving he missed, it was the ability fo him to be in control of his own life and not have to depend on others.
CC
Last February I was sitting at an intersection, waiting for the light to change when an elderly gentleman blitzed through the intersection on a red light, broadsided another car, and sent both vehicles right into the front driver's side corner of my Explorer. A few months later, I was at the local Wal-Mart when I saw the same elderly gentleman blast through the crosswalk in front of the store, nearly hitting several pedestrians, and he drove off apparently without realizing what he'd done.
The man needs to have his license confiscated! If he can't understand, with a body half through his windshield, that something is terribly wrong, he's a hazard to other drivers and obviously, pedestrians!
I think it should be based upon ability to perform rather than age. My family has a lot of 80 year olds who have their faculties. Annual testing, perhaps even license restrictions might be prudent, but I think ability varies with the individual -- especially as many of us won't be retiring until 70 if ever!
Crosswalks don't matter. People don't want to walk a half block to a cross walk. One problem is that there are alot of people (tourists and residents) in the Tampa area and the weather is good alot of the time so there are more people walking. That and people not paying attention is probably the reason for the higher pedestrian accident rate.
"The driver told officers he thought the body had fallen from the sky"
Sad story, but LOL!
Thanks for pointing that out.
No sane person I know would attempt to cross 19 on foot.
I do not know a single state that even does eye exams any longer. I do not want to be on the road with a person in their eighties nor a sixteen year old.
Scary - and there are a lot more Boomers that won't want to give up driving when they should.
Let me guess: On the radio, it was playing the song "It's Raining Men".
My Father-in-Law is 76 years old and blind in one eye. He just got his DL renewed for another 5 years and the only thing he had to do was re-apply for it. No test. No eye exam. Scary.
The following tests are given at the driver license offices and may or may not be required for the license or identification card you are seeking. The testing chart located in this information will help you determine the test(s) you will be required to complete.
Hearing - Drivers applying for a license who are deaf, or cannot hear conversation spoken in a normal tone of voice, are restricted to driving with an outside rearview mirror which should be mounted on the left side of the vehicle, or wearing of a hearing aid.
Vision - Vision testing, using an eye machine located on the counter, is conducted in all driver license offices. Visual acuity readings worse than 20/40 are referred to an eye specialist. Color blindness will not cause any special condition for licensing.
Road Signs - consists of 20 questions regarding road signs, with multiple choice answers.
Road Rules - consists of 20 questions regarding traffic laws and safety, with multiple choice answers.
Driving Test - You must provide a vehicle for the driving test. The vehicle must have a valid tag, proof of insurance, and pass a vehicle inspection. During the driving test, the examiner will observe your ability to control the vehicle and how well you obey traffic laws.
Apparently crossing the street isn't too much fun either.
I don't know what would be worse; having a pedestrian on your windshield, or all those damned love bugs.
My father wonders why I won't go visit him in Florida.
I don't think you can generalize, there are some 50 year olds that shouldn't be behind the wheel, and some 90 year olds that are incredibly fit and swift.
At 93, he probably thought it was a weather report.
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