Connecticut ping!
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Posted on 07/08/2006 9:33:11 PM PDT by nutmeg
Driver: Gas Pedal Got Stuck
NEW LONDON, Conn. -- More than two dozen people were injured -- two of them seriously -- when a station wagon plowed through a crowd of people in New London during the annual Sailfest Saturday afternoon.
Twenty-seven people were injured and were taken to Lawrence and Memorial Hospital, officials said.
The incident happened around 3:30 p.m. near the Amtrak station.
Officials said the driver -- identified as Robert Laine, 89, of Wallingford -- was heading across the train tracks toward to the Fishers Island ferry when the car struck a pedestrian and lurched forward into the crowd.
Laine was not injured. There was also a female passenger in the car. She was not injured either.
Laine told witnesses the gas pedal stuck. Police said it is too premature to pinpoint a cause. They said the investigation is continuing.
Hospital spokesman Kelly Anthony said most of those hurt susffered cuts and bruises and were treated and released. The two most seriously injured, whose names have not been released, were still being evaluated Saturday night.
The waterfront city was holding its annual Sailfest, which brings thousands of visitors to the downtown area. About 200,000 are expected for the fireworks show Saturday night over the Thames River.
Connecticut ping!
Please Freepmail me if you want on or off my infrequent Connecticut ping list.
I would peg it at 80. The odds of a fatal seisure alone at that age is very high.
Don't agree on an age limit. An "Ability-to-Drive" test
is more appropiate. I have a neighbor who is 80. She took me to PU my car that was being serviced. I had no problem
with her driving.
You too will age. Remember what you posted here.
I don't think it's a coincidence that a disproportionate number of these "the accelerator pedal got stuck" accidents involve elderly drivers.
I'm not going to slam you. But I don't think there should be a cut off at a certain age ... some people are fully functional at 85. There should be mandatory testing after a certain age.
An "Ability-to-Drive" test is more appropiate.
Though I don't have a link handy I can remember coming across a post about how the elderly in one town refused to take even THAT sort of step. No offense but the elderly seem to be quite insensitive to the concerns of others when it comes driving safety.
BS
Why is it that gas pedals only stick open in old peoples cars?
>>Laine told witnesses the gas pedal stuck.<<
To his foot.
I simple test is sufficient.
Age discrimination, you know.
I admitted I couldn't remember / find the thread. - shrugs -Take it with a grain of salt if you want. What motive could I have for lying on an annoymous chat site??
>>No offense but the elderly seem to be quite insensitive to the concerns of others when it comes driving safety.<<
What do you mean by "the" elderly?
Which ones.
Do they still make station wagons?
Wonder how old the vehicle was...
Another reason to avoid parades of any sort; I old that boy to quit driving ten years ago but them kids just won't listen.
>>>Why is it that gas pedals only stick open in old peoples cars?<<<
because they they sieze....hehe
You're a tad late but welcome to the show; sometimes these things go on for days.
Most of the time we celebrate superannuation as an heroic feat except for those few times when the codger emulates the artful dodger and the we all scream for grandpa's head.
When will they ever learn to just move over and make room?
"I would peg it at 80. The odds of a fatal seisure alone at that age is very high."
My mother is 84. Has had ZERO accidents and ZERO tickets. Can you say that?
(The Palestinian terrorist regime is the crisis and Israel's fist is the answer.)
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