Sunday, February 02, 2014

79 Year Old Driver Kills Three Pedestrians, Injures Four More

Country Club Scene Of Bizarre Crash, Killing Three Elderly

BRADENTON, FL. -- The Florida Highway Patrol says a white 2009 Chevy Tahoe SUV backed from a parking space at Sugar Creek Country Club at 3333 26th Ave. E. in Bradenton, FL. and killed three pedestrians and left four seriously injured, with the vehicle ending submerged in a canal.

Dead are pedestrians Margaret Vanderlaan age 72, Wilhemina Paul age 70, and Johanna Dijkhoff age 80, all of Bradenton.

Seriously injured were Nelly Depooter age 67 of Ontario, Canada, Nellie Alice Vlasma age 75 of Bradenton, Michael Claus age 79 of Bradenton, and Fred Eringa age 89 of Bradenton.

A Chevy Tahoe, driven by 79-year old Doreen E. Landstra of Palmetto, Fl. pulled forward and needed more room to clear another parked vehicle said a FHP report, and the SUV began backing eastbound again. In doing so, the rear struck seven pedestrians who were standing in the parking lot behind the vehicle. 

It continued to travel east over a curb before colliding with small trees and then entered a canal where it came to final rest facing west partially submerged said Trooper. Keil Nanan and homicide investigator Cpl. Ronnie Highsmith.

Charges are pending further investigation said the FHP.

Update: The Florida Highway Patrol issued the following information 2/5/2014: Doreene E. Landstra was issued a mandatory non-criminal infraction for improper backing (316.1985(1) Florida Statute listed below). Her court date will be on March 5, 2014 at 8:30 a in Courtroom 4-E at the Manatee County Courthouse located at 1051 Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton, FL.
316.1985 Limitations on backing.—
(1) The driver of a vehicle shall not back the same unless such movement can be made with safety and without interfering with other traffic.
(2) The driver of a vehicle shall not back the same upon any shoulder or roadway of any limited access facility.
(3) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a moving violation as provided in chapter 318.

318.19 Infractions requiring a mandatory hearing.—Any person cited for the infractions listed in this section shall not have the provisions of s. 318.14(2), (4), and (9) available to him or her but must appear before the designated official at the time and location of the scheduled hearing:
(1) Any infraction which results in a crash that causes the death of another;

Manatee County Clerks Website:
http://www.manateeclerk.com/GeneralInfo/FAQs/tabid/97/categoryId/27/Default.aspx

Which citations require a mandatory court appearance?

The following charges require a mandatory court hearing:

· Leaving a child in an unattended vehicle
· An accident involving a serious bodily/personal injury
If found guilty of an offense involving serious bodily injury to another, a mandatory fine of $500.00 and a mandatory license suspension of 3 months shall be imposed
· An accident involving a fatality
If found guilty of an offense involving a fatality, a mandatory fine of $1,000.00 and a mandatory license suspension of 6 months shall be imposed
· Passing on enter/exit side while bus is stopped
· Speed 30+ MPH in excess of posted speed limits

The crash remains under investigation, it is anticipated that the final traffic homicide investigative report will take in upwards of 60 days to complete, said the FHP.

1 comment:

  1. Anonymous10:33 PM

    Bradenton's drivers are some of the worst I've ever seen. I don't know what the answer is to retiree drivers who have lost some of their skills on the road or in a parking situation. So sad for everyone.

    ReplyDelete