100-year-old driver hits kids, parents on sidewalk
Source: Agencies |
August 31, 2012, Friday
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Print Edition
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A 100-year-old man backed his car onto a sidewalk and hit 11 people, including nine children, across from an elementary school in South Los Angeles just after classes had ended on Wednesday, authorities said.
Four of the children were in critical condition when firefighters arrived but they were stabilized and in serious condition at a hospital, city fire Captain Jaime Moore said. Everyone was expected to survive, he said.
The powder blue Cadillac backed slowly into the group of parents and children buying snacks from a sidewalk vendor, and the crowd banged on his windows and screamed for him to stop, but not before some of the children were trapped under the car, witnesses said.
Children's backpacks, shoes, candy and loose change were strewn about the scene behind a discount grocery store.
Police identified the driver as Preston Carter and said he was cooperating.
Carter talked to reporters after the crash some five miles southwest of downtown Los Angeles. He said he has a driver's license and will be 101 years old on September 5.
"My brakes failed. It was out of control," Carter said.
Asked about hitting the children, Preston said: "You know I'm sorry about that. I wouldn't do that for nothing on Earth. My sympathies for them."
Carter was pulling out of a grocery store parking lot, but instead of backing into the street, he backed onto the sidewalk, police Captain George Rodriguez said. "I think it was a miscalculation on his part. The gentleman is elderly," Rodriguez said. "Obviously he is going to have some impairment on his decision making."
According to California's Department of Motor Vehicles, people over age 70 must renew their driver's license in person. Older drivers can also be required to take a supplemental driving test.
Rodriguez said the incident is being handled as an accident, and Carter wasn't arrested. His driver's license is valid.
Four of the children were in critical condition when firefighters arrived but they were stabilized and in serious condition at a hospital, city fire Captain Jaime Moore said. Everyone was expected to survive, he said.
The powder blue Cadillac backed slowly into the group of parents and children buying snacks from a sidewalk vendor, and the crowd banged on his windows and screamed for him to stop, but not before some of the children were trapped under the car, witnesses said.
Children's backpacks, shoes, candy and loose change were strewn about the scene behind a discount grocery store.
Police identified the driver as Preston Carter and said he was cooperating.
Carter talked to reporters after the crash some five miles southwest of downtown Los Angeles. He said he has a driver's license and will be 101 years old on September 5.
"My brakes failed. It was out of control," Carter said.
Asked about hitting the children, Preston said: "You know I'm sorry about that. I wouldn't do that for nothing on Earth. My sympathies for them."
Carter was pulling out of a grocery store parking lot, but instead of backing into the street, he backed onto the sidewalk, police Captain George Rodriguez said. "I think it was a miscalculation on his part. The gentleman is elderly," Rodriguez said. "Obviously he is going to have some impairment on his decision making."
According to California's Department of Motor Vehicles, people over age 70 must renew their driver's license in person. Older drivers can also be required to take a supplemental driving test.
Rodriguez said the incident is being handled as an accident, and Carter wasn't arrested. His driver's license is valid.
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