*This is (was) a real Kern Co. Sheriff's cruiser, found it at snopes.com
Posted on 01/11/2006 8:40:05 PM PST by Diddle E. Squat
BAKERSFIELD - A trip to the market takes a tragic turn for a family in Wasco Tuesday morning after they're struck by an out of control car.
According to the Kern County Sheriff Department, 30-year-old Araceli Gallardo and her two children, 4-year-old Alicia and 12-year-old Claudia, were crossing the parking lot to enter Fiesta Latina Market on Seventh Street, when a car lost control and hit them.
The driver of the car fled the scene on foot, but returned shortly after to turn herself into deputies says KCSD.
Meanwhile, the mother and two children were taken to Kern Medical Center for treatment of moderate to major injuries.
The driver of the car has been identified as 79-year-old Guadalupe Lopez.
Investigators say Lopez was pulling into the parking lot with her daughter, 39-year-old Rosa Lopez of Wasco, when she lost control of the car.
Deputies say Lopez is an unlicensed driver.
She is now being charged with felony hit-and-run according to KCSD
Also her daughter Rosa Lopez is also under investigation as an accessory, and delaying or obstructing an investigation.
And a CHP officer is in the hospital after being run over by another 79-year old female driver who had no idea that she had hit anyone.
http://www.kcra.com/news/6010921/detail.html
But of course heaven forbid (and the AARP) that we tighten up driving agility and testing standards for the elderly.
Let's see- unlicensed elderly driver loses control of her car and injures innocent children. This is my "level of sympathy" for the elderly lady- Jail time. I hope she's as upset as possible over what she did. For anyone who says "elderly drivers should not be re-tested"- I hope you're the first ones to fail the re-testing.
It wouldn't have helped in this case.
Deputies say Lopez is an unlicensed driver.
But it might have in the 2nd case (the one who hit the CHP officer.)
I'm not against road testing seniors, I've known a few who should have given up their licenses before they did. I just wanted to point out that it would have made no difference in this case. Criminals come in all ages.
*This is (was) a real Kern Co. Sheriff's cruiser, found it at snopes.com
This story makes me so sick. We have tried everything we can to stop the parents in law from driving -- he's even been tested by the police -- but he manages to hang on to his license. FIL almost pinned my son between his car and mine while crashing into BOTH of our cars which were parked IN OUR GARAGE.
Just how fast is a 79 year old?
This is why the premiums are so high for younger drivers, so that the insurance companies have enough money to line their pockets AND cover accidents caused by their senile customers.
Actually another article says that they drove away, then switched seats, before returning to the scene and pretending that the daughter had been driving. So the part about fleeing on foot may be incorrect.
Ah, that would make sense. Unless of course, Ms. Lopez is a devotee of Jack Lalanne.
How can you be retested if you never had a license in the first place? Probably an illegal to boot.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.