08-30-2012, 11:48 AM | #1 |
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100-year-old driver hits 11 near LA school
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The screams of women and children didn't cause a 100-year-old driver to stop as he backed his large powder blue Cadillac onto a sidewalk across from an elementary school and hit 11 people, including nine children.
So people began pounding on his windows screaming for him to stop, a witness said. Alma Solache said she was buying her children an afterschool snack Wednesday just before the accident outside a South Los Angeles school. "He was not paying attention," said Solache, 24, adding that it was at least two or three seconds before the vehicle halted and people began pulling children out from beneath the car. Four of the children were in critical condition when firefighters arrived but they were stabilized and were in serious condition at a hospital, city fire Capt. Jaime Moore said. Everyone was expected to survive, he said. Children's backpacks, shoes, candy and loose change were strewn about the scene behind a discount grocery store across from Main Street Elementary. Police said the driver, Preston Carter, was being very cooperative and drugs or alcohol were not a factor in the crash. Carter talked to television 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 Sept. 5. "My brakes failed. It was out of control," Carter told KCAL-TV. 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 the grocery store parking lot, but instead of backing into the street, he backed onto the sidewalk, police Capt. 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." Elderly drivers have been involved in other tragedies. In 2003, an 86-year-old man mistakenly stepped on the gas pedal of his car instead of the brake and then panicked, plowing into an open-air market in Santa Monica. Ten people were killed and 63 injured. According to California's Department of Motor Vehicles, people over age 70 must renew their driver's license in person, rather than via the Internet or by mail. Older drivers can also be required to take a supplemental driving test if they fail a vision exam, or if a police officer, a physician, or a family member raises questions about their ability to drive. Rodriguez said the collision was being investigated as an accident, and Carter was not under arrest. He has a valid driver's license, Rodriguez said. What should be the maximum age limit for Senior citizen's to drive? I apologize to the one's on here in advance no disrespect. |
08-30-2012, 12:17 PM | #2 |
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I don't think there should be an age limit since people age differently; HOWEVER, this definitely should be addressed. If there is a minimum age limit (18) there should surely be a maximum.
Maybe have anyone over 65 retake a quick driving test every year or other year.
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08-30-2012, 12:19 PM | #3 | |
need....more....hp
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Quote:
I agree with this; I don't think they should automatically take away your license if your 7X or 8X years old. They should just mandate a driving test every year or every couple years to ensure it's still safe for them to drive.
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08-30-2012, 12:21 PM | #4 |
it's mind bottling..
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reminds me of the south park episode. it revolves around the exact same scenario.
there should be a limit. my grand mother drives and shes 75 ish. i would never drive with her. but i cant say the same for some one that drives 100x better and they are 80+ depends the person but there should be a yearly test given
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08-30-2012, 12:25 PM | #5 |
Mr. Ricer
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101 and still driving !!! i got respect for him .. atleast he is not sitting in the house waiting to die..
I feel bad for the kids though.. i hope they get better soon.. atleast no one died
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08-30-2012, 01:57 PM | #6 |
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The Brakes failed, my ass. sounds like a BS excuse to me.
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08-30-2012, 02:17 PM | #7 |
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Man, 101 years old. Just think of everything that guy has witnessed over the last 100 years. The invention of instant coffee, bubble gum, ecstasy, the progression of the automobile and aviation industry, NASA, WW1, WW2, Vietnam, desert storm, Kennedy assassination, the list is endless. That's a long, full life.
Hope everyone that was hurt recovers quickly. |
08-30-2012, 02:34 PM | #8 |
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I've always thought that after age 65, drivers should have to have a driving test every couple of years. The real test, at the DMV, with the creepy smelly guy in the passenger seat.
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08-30-2012, 02:50 PM | #9 |
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I got a new 40 ton Carrier chiller replacement one time from an old guy that hit D instead of R while backing out of his church one Sunday morning. no one lost their life and I got a nice job out of it. I highly doubt he's driving anymore if he's still alive.
Speaking of retesting or taking their license. If most old people are anything like my grandfather who was 96 at the time, they will drive anyhow. He had three fender benders until my dad ended up talking him into selling the car. |
08-30-2012, 02:53 PM | #10 |
Honestly I think everyone should have to retest for license every 5 years. there are bad drivers at all ages.
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08-30-2012, 02:55 PM | #11 |
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I agree 110%!
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08-30-2012, 02:57 PM | #12 |
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65 is very early to worry retesting. Look up Keith Kauffman or Steve Kinser some time. These Guys are heading to the mid 60 mark and both drive 900HP winged sprint cars and still win races once and a while. I have a friend that is 67 and still drives a tri-axle dump truck. He has the cleanest record in his shop.
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08-30-2012, 03:40 PM | #13 |
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How many more times does stuff like this need to happen before we start placing reasonable retesting rules on seniors?
Problem is that seniors vote... |
08-30-2012, 03:45 PM | #14 |
Logic is dead
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They really need to crack down on senile old fools behind the wheel. The consequences, and their ignorance, is out of control.
Some old man backed into my GFs SUV in a parking lot. He didn't even realize he was hitting her, just kept on backing in and pushing into the car. Then he even tried to drive off. People seeing this pounded on his window and told him to stop. He finally did, then denied hitting the car and acted like he didn't know what happened. Even after people finally convinced him he hit her car, when my GF had her insurance call his insurance company, they we're denying that there was any incident. This stuff is getting rediculous. I can have some sympathy for the elderly and the things they go through, but when they flat out deny/lie or ignore stuff, that pisses me off.
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