Old Woman to be charged with Misdemeanor Vehicular Manslaughter

April 29, 2009

Sand Diego, C.A. - Police will recommend that a misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter charge is filed against the elderly woman responsible for the death of a 59-year old man in an accident that occurred two weeks ago

The 86-year-old woman’s car slammed into the lobby of a dentist office in Tierresanta Boulevard. Police said she was unable to put her foot on the brake as she was pulling into a disabled parking lot. The vehicle drove through the office’s front glass windows after running over a pole.

The victim was at the dentist office to get a broken tooth fixed, said a dental hygienist in the office at the time of the accident. He was pushed back for about 20 feet and was crushed against a wall in the office’s reception area. Police said he had to be rescued by firefighters.

According to Medical Examiner’s Office, the victim in the April 15 crash died two weeks after the accident. He suffered from organ damage and multiple fractures. He also went into cardiopulmonary arrest two days after he was admitted to Sharp Memorial Hospital.

The victim was resuscitated but he continued to be unresponsive and had to be ventilated.

Police Sgt. Jeff Fellows said the woman’s driver’s license will be forwarded to the Department of Motor Vehicles for re-evaluation. In addition, he said the City Attorney’s Office will decide if the woman will be prosecuted.