81 Year Old Driver Plows Into Subway Shop - Student Killed

[matcom]

<snip>

An 81-year-old driver who apparently confused the gas and brake pedals of his car crashed through the front of a sandwich shop, killing a Loyola University student and injuring two other people in Jefferson Park on Tuesday.

Hyman Mann of Glenview was behind the wheel of his '99 Chrysler Sebring when it squealed out of a parking space and through the front of a Subway shop 30 feet away at 6352 N. Milwaukee Ave. just before 11:30 a.m., police and witnesses said.

Andrzej Swiderski, 26, of Northbrook, was standing at the counter with a few other customers waiting to put in their orders when he was killed in the impact, witnesses said.

"The driver said that he confused the brake and gas pedals," said police News Affairs Sgt. Robert Cargie. "Frankly, it just looks like a tragic accident."

Mann, who was not injured, was cited for one count of negligent driving, Cargie said. Swiderski was taken to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, where he was pronounced dead. Police said the two other victims were taken to Our Lady of the Resurrection Medical Center and were not believed to be in serious condition.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0407140269jul14,1,2375128.story?coll=chi-news-hed

[Heyo]

1. Man how tragic....

We really need to start testing older drivers...

Heyo

[cheezus]

5. um, how about ALL drivers

It's easy to blame the elderly -- they crashed because they're old.

but for everyone else - well, they just crashed because of inattention, recklessness, inexperience, etc. no need to test them

[DS1]

2. Negligent driving? Try vehicular homicide ~and~ a bag of chips

Man, when I get old, you fuckers better be watchin' out

[matcom]

3. ah, but we don't punish poor, little 81 year olds

:eyes:

[prole_for_peace]

4. I sure hope they don't let him drive anymore.

It would be sad to lose that sense of freedom but I think there are bigger things than a person's "right" to drive. It isn't a right it is a privilege.

My dad is 61 and I am always threatening him with taking the keys. He drives fine but I just like yanking his chain.

[Blue-Jay]

6. What? No farmers market was close?

[johnnie]

7. "Frankly, it just looks like a tragic accident."

Unfortunately there are too many of these accidents involving the elderly.