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.
Thankfully no one was killed and prayers for the injured.
Funny how the gas pedals on these cars only stick when a senior citizen is behind the wheel.
RE post 25 - reminds me of comedian Emo Philips saying he always remembers his grandfather's last words - "A TRUCK!!!!"
I'll speculate that he stomped on the gas rather than the brake.
Unfortunately he missed Ned Lamont, who was in the crowd somewhere (probably putting another Lieberman donation in the mail).
I'm surprised though. 65 responses and no cries of 'fry him'.
I might get slammed for this, but I don't think people over 85 should be driving on the roads nowadays.
Your right. That is horrible. There are many that can drive at that age fine. I guess you like living in communism. Move to North Korea and they will tell you how to live and what to do at every age. Get a grip! I still have 50 years until I am 85 (if I make it), but I don't want the government telling me if I can drive or not. I guess you would enjoy it.
What that article is not telling you is that he was trying to cross the tracks where they were closed for Sailfest. There was a detour to go around Sailfest to get to the ferry.
The old guy came up to the detour, got confused, tried to inch into the crowd like they must have all been there by coincidence (maybe they were just a big group), he bumped into one person, got confused, stepped on the gas instead of the brake and hit 27 people.
He's probably driven this route 1,000 times but he came across a group of people he had never encountered and his cognitive skills couldn't process the change. The only thing he could process was "continue on my route like a robot".
He was being held at the hospital overnight and treated for "confusion" according to the local news.
Thankfully, nobody was killed.
Me in a few years. How about you?
Do you realize that in just a few years when all of the baby boomers become old fxxxs 95% of the drivers will be old fxxxs? Tragic to think that 95% of the voters will be old fxxxs too. Bumper cars could be a good solution though.
Confusion? I wonder if it was dementia? In any case, I hope he has to be cleared by a doc before getting back behind the wheel.
If this guy ever legally drives a car again on public roadways, something is badly wrong with our system.
Well, he needs a definite going over, medically-speaking. But taking away licenses is going to open up a lot of other cans of worms. Like what to do about elderly who don't have access to mass transpo/taxis/friends/family members to get them where they need to go. Not to mention that it's good for folks to get out, both mentally and physically. You don't want them becoming shut-ins. I don't see a whole lot of planning for that, either.
Go to Florida.
The state keeps renewing one's license (automatically by mail) for 12 (possibly 16) years as long as there are no accidents or violation.
My MIL was blind for four years before her license even came up for automatic renewal. She had quit driving as soon as her vision made it unsafe, but kept the license for ID purposes.
It is very sad to see the loss of independence an elderly person suffers by losing license, but it is also very scary, in Florida, the number of incapable drivers are on the road legally because of this lunatic system of renewals.
NEW LONDON, Conn. -- Ned Lamont, the Democratic challenger for U.S. Senate and several of his campaign staff workers were in the same crowd that a station wagon plowed into Saturday afternoon during the city's annual Sailfest.
Lamont was not injured, said a campaign spokeswoman, but three of the staffers were treated for various injuries. In all 27, people were injured in the incident.
Lamont, who is challenging three-term incumbent Sen. Joe Lieberman in the Aug. 8 primary, was campaigning at festival, said spokeswoman Liz Dupont-Diehl.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who was hurt," Dupont-Diehl told The Associated Press.
The campaign workers injuries' included a broken leg, a fractured nose and scrapes and bruises. Their names have not been released.
All the injured were taken to Lawrence and Memorial Hospital. Earlier reports indicated there were two people with serious injuries, but hospital spokesman Kelly Anthony said everyone is expected to be treated and released by late Saturday night.
The driver, Robert Laine, 89, of Wallingford, was not injured.
The incident happened around 3:30 p.m. near the Amtrak station where a crowd had gathered on both sides of the warning gates as a train passed. Witnesses said once the train departed and the gates lifted, the pedestrians and the Chevrolet Caprice wagon both began to cross.
New London Mayor Elizabeth Sabilia said the car was crossing tracks to get to the Fishers Island ferry when it struck a pedestrian.
"He panicked," she said.
The car then lurched forward and drove through the crowd, which witnesses said was about four- or five-people deep. At least two people bounced off the car windshield.
"It hit. It just kept going," witness Terrie Castagna, of Sterling, said. "I don't think anyone knew that a car was coming across. There was screaming, it happened so fast."
Castagna, 43, a former paramedic, helped with first aid until emergency crews arrived. She said she talked to the Laine who told her the gas pedal stuck.
"He was shaken. He was in shock," she said.
City police said it was premature to point to a cause and are still investigating, interviewing witnesses and many of those struck. Investigators will also look at any video that may have been captured by surveillance cameras used by Amtrak and the Fishers Island ferry.
"It was a very chaotic scene," police Capt. Kenneth Edwards said. "There were luckily a large number of emergency personnel in the area."
City police and paramedics were helped by units from neighboring towns. Responders even got help from a nearby hot dog vendor, Stephen Linicus, who donated 10 bags of ice.
The waterfront city's Sailfest brings thousands of visitors to the downtown. About 200,000 were expected to gather Saturday night for the fireworks over the Thames River.
"Everybody is in cheerful happy moods and suddenly something like this happens," Linicus said. "It dampens the whole scene unfortunately."
http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/local/state/hc-08204102.apds.m0226.bc-ct--sailjul08,0,1097961.story?coll=hc-headlines-local-wire
Who do you think is responsible for that "planning"?
I see nothing wrong at all with taking away licenses from the cognitively inadequate. Quite the reverse.
When I die, I want to go peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather.
Not yelling and screaming like the passengers in his car.
I understand. This grandmother probably diapered your bottom at one time and here you are having to do this. Driving is such a major symbol of their independence. Most of us will be there one day and hope someone in my family will be brave enough to take my keys. :o)
My guess is it helps to lessen pain - the hip and/or leg pain that repetitive motions can bring.
...a passerby opened her car door and told her to take her foot off the accelerator.
Now that there's just crazy! Can't explain that one.
It's all a bunch of hogwash. At 89 it's time to at least attempt to be a man and admit you royally screwed up.
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