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.
Ninety-three year olds should not be driving.
Driving is not fun in Florida.
This is an issue that we're going to see more of. Good drivers getting old. My Dad is only 80 but recently drove through a woman's garage door while turning around in her driveway. Hit the gas instead of the brake. Insists it was no big deal and he's a great driver. This was in his surviving car...the other one got totalled. Yet the DMV continues to issue him a license, and he has insurance.
If they take their time he won't need a trial of any of that stuff either. Just tear up his drivers license and I hope he was insured.
That gets my vote for understatement of the day!
Oh my! Perhaps he should consider taking the bus from now on.
Well, there IS a hurricane coming...
Fully understandable.
At 93, nothing should surprise you. After all, it does rain cats and dogs, and Democrats still get elected.
Last night's "Global Warming" season premier was one of the funniest SPs. I'm still laughing.
"Driving is not fun in Florida."
From this story I'd say being a pedestrian is worse.
I live near St. Petersburg. I'm not defending the senile driver in this case. However, the article says the pedestrian was crossing 34 Street South. The article doesn't mention that this road is also known as US 19 and is a six lane highway and a major north-south artery that merges with the interstate before crossing the mouth og Tampa Bay. The 45 mph the driver was going was the speed limit. Any pedestrian foolish enough to try to jay walk across that road is dodging death every time.
Thanks. I searched and couldn't find it.
The cities around the Tampa Bay area are consistently ranked in the top 10 U.S. cities as the most dangerous to pedestrians. Lots of 6 lane roads without pedestrian crossings and 93 year old drivers that react to road conditions 2 block after they pass them, providing they register in their thoughts at all. Don't forget that St. Peteresburg is God's waiting room and the seniors get up at the crack of dawn, down 20 prescriptions and then get behind the wheel.
Anyone might have hit this guy... but not everyone would drive for miles with him stuck in their windshield!
"Yet the DMV continues to issue him a license, and he has insurance."
In Florida older drivers are required to take a test which includes not only eyesight evaluation but an actual drivers test. This is all well and good however, if the driver fails, he or she is issued a temporary permit in order to continue driving and has 90 days to take another test. If the driver fails again they are eligible to apply for another temporary license to retake again. I knew an old lady with dementia who drove for 3 years on a temporary license. She could never pass the drivers test, no problem she continued to drive until her 85 year old husband hit her and she died. Guess he got tired of her nagging. He was not charged as he had dementia as well. This was in Sarasota.
Moral of the story, be careful driving on the west coast between St. Pete and Sarasota County!
Missed it unfortunately
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