97forever
Team Owner
Car plows into farmers market,8 killed,40 injured.Santa Monica....just being reported now on cnn.
Breaking news in California!
- Thread starter 97forever
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97forever
Team Owner
More details:apparently an 80 year old man is being questioned.A 2 year old was killed.A real tragedy. 
Horrible! It made the local news here. Will see more on the late news @ 10pm tonite.
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Ward Burton
Guest
Thats too bad... 
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tonystewartfan
Guest
that's terrible
It made the news here also. What a tragedy.
How much do you wanna bet alcohol was involved?
see article for more......
97forever
Team Owner
Thanks for posting that link,Maj.What a terrible thing,man.
Diabetic symptoms, then, which is known to exhibit similar effects to alcohol?Originally posted by majestyx@Jul 16 2003, 08:16 PM
see article for more......
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Gollum
Guest
I saw part of that on the local news but didn't catch it all. Looks real bad.
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24and12Fan
Guest
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24and12Fan
Guest
Here's the report from CNN
SANTA MONICA, California (CNN) -- An 86-year-old man who drove his mid-size Buick through a crowded farmers market Wednesday told police he couldn't stop and may have hit the accelerator instead of the brake, Santa Monica Police Chief James T. Butts Jr. said.
Eight people were killed, including a 3-year-old girl, authorities said. The more than 55 hurt include 15 people with critical injuries, they said. Two of those critically injured are under the age of 2.
"He said that he tried to brake and he couldn't stop the vehicle," Butts said.
Police escorted the man to a local hospital where he was found to have no alcohol or psychiatric medications in his system.
Later, he walked out of the police station with the help of a cane and with his attorney by his side. Police released him from custody after he was interviewed by detectives. Charges could be filed at a later time, Butts said, noting that the man is a resident of Santa Monica and does not appear to be a flight risk.
"Right now it looks as though there may be some negligence as far as his capacity to drive safely," Butts said. There was no indication that the man intended to injure any pedestrians.
Butts said the man drove his 1992 mid-size Buick LeSabre "at least at a moderate rate of speed" for three blocks along the market street, which was filled with pedestrians, "striking dozens of people." The car stopped only after a pedestrian was thrown into the air and landed on the windshield of the vehicle, Butts said.
The accident occurred at 1:47 p.m. (4:47 p.m. EDT), Butts said.
Butts said officers have interviewed more than 100 witnesses who give conflicting reports regarding the driver's demeanor at the time of the incident.
"So now we're attempting to determine whether this was a straight accident -- medically related -- criminal negligence or criminal homicide," Butts said.
One witness said, "He was not only speeding, he was accelerating."
Joe Chrisman works in a building along the street where the market is held. He witnessed the accident and said the driver appeared befuddled.
"He looked very, very confused," Chrisman said. "I think he was just mentally out of touch. He seemed very confused when he stepped out of the car. He definitely shouldn't have been behind the wheel. He was definitely not quite with it."
Chrisman said there was a woman underneath the man's car, and after a bicycle policeman apprehended the driver, a group of about 10 people together lifted the car off of the victim, who was still breathing.
Video shot by local news station helicopters showed several people being treated by emergency personnel on top of red sheets in the street. Ambulances and police cars crowded the area, and a damaged red car sat among debris.
'Single most horrific, devastating scene of tragedy'
As police roped off the crime scene, a child's blue stroller sat empty in the street amid bodies covered with yellow tarps.
"This is the single most horrific, devastating scene of tragedy I've ever witnessed in 30 years of law enforcement," Butts said. He added that the sight of the dead child "just broke my heart."
Chrisman said he ran outside to help after the accident.
There was "so much carnage," he said.
Four of the injured were taken to St. John's Health Center, where a spokeswoman said one person was in critical condition, two were moderately injured and one had a minor injury.
UCLA Medical Center received 13 patients: six in critical condition -- including two children under the age of 2; two patients who were still being evaluated; and five people who have been treated and released.
Hospital sources said the injuries range from broken bones to head injuries to possible injuries to internal organs.
A spokeswoman for the Santa Monica Policed Department said the Wednesday market is usually extremely busy, with three city blocks devoted to the market stalls and closed to all but pedestrian traffic.
According to the city's Web site, 9,000 people visit the market each week.
SANTA MONICA, California (CNN) -- An 86-year-old man who drove his mid-size Buick through a crowded farmers market Wednesday told police he couldn't stop and may have hit the accelerator instead of the brake, Santa Monica Police Chief James T. Butts Jr. said.
Eight people were killed, including a 3-year-old girl, authorities said. The more than 55 hurt include 15 people with critical injuries, they said. Two of those critically injured are under the age of 2.
"He said that he tried to brake and he couldn't stop the vehicle," Butts said.
Police escorted the man to a local hospital where he was found to have no alcohol or psychiatric medications in his system.
Later, he walked out of the police station with the help of a cane and with his attorney by his side. Police released him from custody after he was interviewed by detectives. Charges could be filed at a later time, Butts said, noting that the man is a resident of Santa Monica and does not appear to be a flight risk.
"Right now it looks as though there may be some negligence as far as his capacity to drive safely," Butts said. There was no indication that the man intended to injure any pedestrians.
Butts said the man drove his 1992 mid-size Buick LeSabre "at least at a moderate rate of speed" for three blocks along the market street, which was filled with pedestrians, "striking dozens of people." The car stopped only after a pedestrian was thrown into the air and landed on the windshield of the vehicle, Butts said.
The accident occurred at 1:47 p.m. (4:47 p.m. EDT), Butts said.
Butts said officers have interviewed more than 100 witnesses who give conflicting reports regarding the driver's demeanor at the time of the incident.
"So now we're attempting to determine whether this was a straight accident -- medically related -- criminal negligence or criminal homicide," Butts said.
One witness said, "He was not only speeding, he was accelerating."
Joe Chrisman works in a building along the street where the market is held. He witnessed the accident and said the driver appeared befuddled.
"He looked very, very confused," Chrisman said. "I think he was just mentally out of touch. He seemed very confused when he stepped out of the car. He definitely shouldn't have been behind the wheel. He was definitely not quite with it."
Chrisman said there was a woman underneath the man's car, and after a bicycle policeman apprehended the driver, a group of about 10 people together lifted the car off of the victim, who was still breathing.
Video shot by local news station helicopters showed several people being treated by emergency personnel on top of red sheets in the street. Ambulances and police cars crowded the area, and a damaged red car sat among debris.
'Single most horrific, devastating scene of tragedy'
As police roped off the crime scene, a child's blue stroller sat empty in the street amid bodies covered with yellow tarps.
"This is the single most horrific, devastating scene of tragedy I've ever witnessed in 30 years of law enforcement," Butts said. He added that the sight of the dead child "just broke my heart."
Chrisman said he ran outside to help after the accident.
There was "so much carnage," he said.
Four of the injured were taken to St. John's Health Center, where a spokeswoman said one person was in critical condition, two were moderately injured and one had a minor injury.
UCLA Medical Center received 13 patients: six in critical condition -- including two children under the age of 2; two patients who were still being evaluated; and five people who have been treated and released.
Hospital sources said the injuries range from broken bones to head injuries to possible injuries to internal organs.
A spokeswoman for the Santa Monica Policed Department said the Wednesday market is usually extremely busy, with three city blocks devoted to the market stalls and closed to all but pedestrian traffic.
According to the city's Web site, 9,000 people visit the market each week.
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Happy29
Guest
What happened ? Did he have a heart-attack or something, I know old people cannot drive (except for Rusty, sorry to make a joke) but to cause an accident like this he had to have had a problem.
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Butch44
Guest
I know this area very well...it is only about ten minutes from my house. It was a pure tragedy...however, the man was not DRUNK nor on MEDS...it was simply a case of old age mistake. A forinsics (sp) specialist from San Diego who specializes in auto accidents stated that this type of accident in not uncommon. He said that certain individuals (elderly most often) mistake the gas for the brake...the man hit the gas instead of the brake and simply out of shock did not apply the brake....he
It is so sad for the victums of this accident...however, it was an accident...the man was 86 years old...he is a carrying loving man who did not in anyway want to hurt anyone....I feel pain for those who lost loved ones in this tragedy...however, it is simply that a TRAGEDY. I watched our local news last night and heard all of the horror stories. The street has been reopened however, the pieces are still being picked up by the victums families.
If you all would like I can post a site where theere are pictures of this tragedy (there not gorry pix).
It is so sad for the victums of this accident...however, it was an accident...the man was 86 years old...he is a carrying loving man who did not in anyway want to hurt anyone....I feel pain for those who lost loved ones in this tragedy...however, it is simply that a TRAGEDY. I watched our local news last night and heard all of the horror stories. The street has been reopened however, the pieces are still being picked up by the victums families.
If you all would like I can post a site where theere are pictures of this tragedy (there not gorry pix).
This tragedy has opened up a whole new debate. Should the elderly have to take a driving test to determine if they are "still" capable of being safe behind the wheel of an automobile? It is my opinion, and that is ALL it is - my opinion, that at as we age, ALL human beings begin to lose the ability to react quickly. The real debate is at what age? I feel that if you wish to continue to operate a motor vehicle past the age of, say 75 for arguments sake, that you should be required to take a driving test just the same as you did to get your driver license in the first place at age 16. There are two states that have this as a state law, and the age that they use is 75. My boss' father is 82 years old, and I would not hesitate to ride in a vehicle that he is operating. And I have been behind a little old lady who truly couldn't see out the front windshield, much less have a clear view of her surroundings and was completely scared to death of her being behind the wheel of that vehicle.
Remember! A driver license is a privilege not a right! (Or at least it is here in the State of Texas!)
Remember! A driver license is a privilege not a right! (Or at least it is here in the State of Texas!)
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bowtie
Guest
I think you hit the nail on the head when you said they need to take a test to determine whether or not you can still drive a vehicle. All individuals age differently, my grandmother is 77 years old and has no business behind the wheel of a car and hasn't been for a long time, my step-fathers mother on the other hand is two months older than my grandmother and she stills drives all over the country on vacation. I have always said that something needs to be done about this problem. But you know, you take away an elderly person's driving privlidges and to them you take away their freedom.
That is the key word there, bowtie. There are some areas of the country, especially the small rural towns that don't have the ability to provide the elderly with transportation services so that they have the ability to continue doing things for themselves. They don't want to have to "depend" on or as they call it "burden" someone else with having to take them to do the every day tasks that you and I take for granted. ie-grocery shopping, banking, going out to lunch/dinner, etc...... It's just a shame that a tragedy such as this has to shed a brighter light on a difficult situation.
In Indiana, you have to retake driving tests more often after you get to a certain age (I think 65, but haven't checked in a while)
My mom is 72 she has been ill for a while. Now that she is better, she wants to start driving herself again. (I have been taking her where she wants to go for almost 2 years). Mom enrolled in a program sponsored by AARP at our local senior center, I was a 3 week course on driving for seniors. She is also going out with me or my brother and practice driving in parking lots ans quiet streets to get back in the swing of things. This was her idea and I applaud this.
nascarwoman, that is great that your Mom wanted to take the steps to make sure that everyone is safe. I applaud her too! It is the folks that think it's "not fair" since they already have a driver license that think it is infringing on their "freedom". There really is no simple solution, but I really feel it has to start somewhere.
And, fury, I think that Indiana is one of the states that I heard about that the age is 75. Both states were in the north/northeast area.
And, fury, I think that Indiana is one of the states that I heard about that the age is 75. Both states were in the north/northeast area.
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4xchampncountin
Guest
There is no doubt in my mind that there should be a law requiring driving tests at certain ages, and I really think 75 is way too old for this. My father was 65 when he had a stroke. After he recovered (mostly) from his stroke he began driving his 1 ton dump truck of all things! I went with him to deliver coal in it whenever I could (mostly out of concern for his health and the health of other drivers) and I was scared every time. He would drift from lane to lane for no reason and get angry and yell at people who had the audacity to honk their horn at him. I loved him to death, but there is really no way he should have been driving at that point and he never lived to see 75 years old. I really half expected he would cause a very serious, if not fatal, accident at some point. I can't even imagine how bad I would have felt if he had killed someone while driving.