Posted on 04/18/2012 5:30:02 PM PDT by matt04
The woman who crashed into the Publix on Belle Terre Parkway was charged with careless driving Tuesday as the Florida Highway Patrol released a video showing her car shattering glass doors as it crashed into the supermarket and plowed through shoppers.
"When you see the video you realize it's a miracle no one got killed," FHP Capt. Jerry Crews said.
Ten Palm Coast residents were injured when 76-year-old Thelma Wagenhoffer's 2004 Toyota Camry "accelerated rapidly as it crossed the parking lot" and crashed into the Publix, the FHP said.
The car careened through the store for 40 to 50 feet -- at least, Crews said.
Wagenhoffer, who lives in Palm Coast, will have to appear in court because of the seriousness of the injuries to the people in the store, Crews said. Wagenhoffer was not injured and FHP did not find any mechanical problems with the Toyota that could have caused the crash.
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The accident happened at 1:24 p.m. Saturday closed the Publix at 4950 Belle Terre Parkway for the rest of the day. It reopened at 7 a.m. Sunday with a plywood patch and a wooden door at the entrance. The crash came less than two weeks after an airplane plunged into a Publix in DeLand, injuring five people and closing that store until sometime this summer.
(Excerpt) Read more at news-journalonline.com ...
I had an uncle who had to be practically held at gunpoint so his sons could take away his car. For a long time it was obvious my uncle shouldn’t be driving. I remember once getting into his car, he pulled out into traffic and we were almost broadsided by another vehicle. Scared me half to death, and I don’t scare easily. From then on, when he would offer to drive me somewhere, I would always decline.
For years after his car was taken away, my uncle spoke of getting another car and driving again. It was very hard for him to not drive anymore, but I’m glad his sons had the courage to do the right thing.
While I was waiting in line (what else do you do at the BMV), there was an old guy at the vision testing machine who couldn't read it. The women kept saying, "Come on, honey, let's try it again." The guy had about 8 pairs of glasses with him and was telling them that he was pretty sure one pair worked. So he went through all of them and eventually I think they came to the conclusion of "Close enough, sweety" and they passed him. I felt as if I should start screaming, "No! Don't let him drive." But I think everyone in the place was so happy for the guy that he passed. Strange.
I wonder what ever happened to that guy. And the people he had to have driven over.
A few months ago I was driving home in the daylight on a two lane county thoroughfare through an extensive forest. The normal speed is 50, faster during commute times and slower on Sundays. I had to slow down for traffic and my reaction was “Whoa, who is this moron going 30 mph? Then I looked up ahead and realized it was my 85 year old mother-in-law. Bless her heart.
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