Horrifying incident at Santa Monica farmer's market
An elderly man plowed his car through the two blocks of this busy farmers market on Arizona Avenue today. So far, there are 8 dead and up to 50 injured. One of the dead is 2 year old.
I can only hope that the driver had a heart attack or a seizure at the wheel- the other possibilities are too awful to contemplate- the news services here are raising every one except for the terrorism aspect.
The story
I can only hope that the driver had a heart attack or a seizure at the wheel- the other possibilities are too awful to contemplate- the news services here are raising every one except for the terrorism aspect.
The story
Comments
Fellowship
It seems to me that it's more or less a case of someone who was too old to be driving...as harsh as that may sound. I just heard on NPR that he tested clean for alcohol.
Older people value their independence...and I respect that. But if this turns out to be a case of someone who should NOT be operating a car, then all I can say is that we need to rethink how we license people.
This type of thing happens a lot. Just not as many people killed as this one.
Originally posted by Scott
The exact same thing happened in to Chicago though not as deadly. Old guy got confused or whatever and turned his car down the lakefront bike path going about 30 or 40. "Only" one person killed. No criminal charges.\
This type of thing happens a lot. Just not as many people killed as this one.
Very sad...heard it on the radio.
Thing is, It can happen when you least expect it, minding your own business..and some idiot decides to speed thru an intersection...wham..
( I speak from personal experience )
Originally posted by Moogs
Hell this happens in south Florida almost every year -- seems like some old driver is always running amok over a sidewalk or park bench. No one wants to be told they're "too old to drive", but there should be some sort of mandatory yearly renewal [test] once you get past 70 IMO.
In Indiana there is some sort of law for that. My grandpa who is 80 this last year had to take what I *think* is a test for every 10 years for over the age of 60. But don't quote me on this, I am not sure of the specifics or if that is the length of time it is. Anyways, very very sad.
Originally posted by Jeremiah Rich
In Indiana there is some sort of law for that. My grandpa who is 80 this last year had to take what I *think* is a test for every 10 years for over the age of 60. But don't quote me on this, I am not sure of the specifics or if that is the length of time it is. Anyways, very very sad.
None of these tests are of foolproof of course. Even if you had a test every year, it's not always going to catch the rapid deterioration of a geriatric person's motor skills or situational awareness. Lots of people mistakenly step on the gas instead of the brakes too. Some teen chick put a big dent in the local train station here for the same reason. Another common and sometimes catastrophic mistake might be forgetting to take your car out of reverse or drive when you mean to go the other way...
old people should realize at some point that they're just too old to drive, and stop driving
The Santa Monica incident is a tragedy all around, from the victims and their families to the old man and his family.
My sister lives in Los Angeles and her office is very close to the market. She was going to eat lunch there and was on her way walking. Then right before she arrived at the market, she desided to stop at some shop before eating lunch. That was not planned. Two minutes later (while she was in that shop) the accident happened! She would have been right there where he hit!...two minutes! I'm a little shocked by the thought.
Originally posted by Power Apple
This is a horrible tragedy! So sad.
My sister lives in Los Angeles and her office is very close to the market. She was going to eat lunch there and was on her way walking. Then right before she arrived at the market, she desided to stop at some shop before eating lunch. That was not planned. Two minutes later (while she was in that shop) the accident happened! She would have been right there where he hit!...two minutes! I'm a little shocked by the thought.
wow! glad she wasn't there at the time
Doctors can revoke your licence if your epileptic because there is the risk that you could have a seizure behind the wheel yet senile people on the verge of death are still allowed to tool around town in the LeSabre's despite the fact that this shite keeps happening.
Originally posted by InactionMan
This should never have happened. The elderly should not be allowed to drive. There is mandatory yearly tests in Canada for the decrepit but it has yet to stop my barely living grandfather from continually passing the test and continually running in to things (street light, mail boxes, parked cars).
Doctors can revoke your licence if your epileptic because there is the risk that you could have a seizure behind the wheel yet senile people on the verge of death are still allowed to tool around town in the LeSabre's despite the fact that this shite keeps happening.
This could still happen to young people or those without medical conditions. Drastic preemptive measures against the elderly aren't going to stop drunk drivers or people who fall asleep at the wheel. I have a 90 year old grandfather who is sharp both physically and mentally. He could have a stroke or heart attack just like that, but so could a 40 year old man who eats a lot of fast food.
[I say that age is approximately 70. Everyone is different of course but you have to draw a line in the sand somewhere. I say 70 is reasonable. I would submit my own parents should do it, and they're indeed over 70 though very sharp mentally and generally healthy.]
It should be mandatory in all 50: one in-vehicle, off-road test every 12 months. No pass, no license. [If AARP doesn't like it, they can take a flying leap. Screw them] and every other group that lobbies for the sake of lobbying rather than for the sake of public good.
1) DMV in-car tests are very basic. They'd have to be totally reimplemented.
2) The 1 year gap still allows a large portion of tested drivers to fall through in between.
3) The lack of a driver's license doesn't necessarily prevent one from getting behind the wheel.
It'll help a little, but this kind of stuff will still happen.
Infant 10th fatality in farmers' market crash
SANTA MONICA, California (CNN) -- A 7-month-old boy Thursday died from injuries suffered Wednesday when an 86-year-old man drove his car through a crowded farmers' market in Santa Monica, California.
The boy was the 10th fatality. More than 50 people were injured when Russell Weller drove his car through the pedestrians-only, three-block stretch crowded with shoppers, police said. Weller may face manslaughter charges, police said Thursday.
If this guy's advanced age still affords him the privilege to drive then it also comes with the full responsibility and consequences of the law. I want to see him in jail.