Hit and Run, man not to face criminal charges... (only in FL)

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Pedestrian lodged in windshield, driver keeps going for three miles

St. Petersburg, Florida -- Police are investigating a bizarre hit and run crash.

Investigators say 93-year-old Ralph Parker hit a pedestrian on 34th Street and 46th Avenue South on Wednesday night. He then he drove three miles with the victim's body lodged in the windshield.

Police found the victim's leg in the street at the scene of the accident.

Parker was finally stopped at the southbound toll-booth of the Sunshine Skyway, with the body still in the windshield. The toll booth operator thought it was a prank, until he saw the blood.

Parker told officers he thought a body fell from the sky. Police say he will probably not face criminal charges, because he was unaware he was in an accident.
 
RE: Hit and Run, man not to face criminal charges... (only in FL)

No offence to our more experianced members, but that is why the country should require a driving test every year for drivers after a certain age.
 
RE: Hit and Run, man not to face criminal charges... (only in FL)

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... but that is why the country should require a driving test every year for drivers after a certain age.
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Some would need to start at 17.
 
RE: Hit and Run, man not to face criminal charges... (only in FL)

I agree for more driving tests! I think it's way too easy to get a license in this country.

Why would the fact that he didn't know he was in an accident excuse him? Drunks that make that claim and get caught are charged. He took a life!! x(
 
RE: Hit and Run, man not to face criminal charges... (only in FL)

I doubt he had a license. He has alzhimers or dementia. He probably wandered away when his caregiver wasn't looking. St Petersburg has a lot of elderly people who retire here.
 
RE: Hit and Run, man not to face criminal charges... (only in FL)

[div class="dcquote"][strong]Quote[/strong]
No offence to our more experianced members, but that is why the country should require a driving test every year for drivers after a certain age.
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I had to take a test to prove I could drive with one leg, but the old pharts down here can renew for 7 years at at time by mail. I don't begrudge the DMV for testing me, if I saw a one-legged dude hobble in the office, I'd test him too. What I have a problem with is not testing those, who because of age, can't drive.::nono::
 
RE: Hit and Run, man not to face criminal charges... (only in FL)

I'll agree with aging affecting driving. I honestly feel I'm not as good a driver as I used to be. With worse vision, and not feeling great or having aches and pains interfering with concentration/steering, etc., I just don't always feel like I'm in as much control as I'd like to be.

I don't know though if licensing is the only issue. There are some people who just don't pay attention when they are driving, or have bad habits or just plain suck at driving who still would easily pass driving tests.

Then again, I do think something should be done about this man. What? I have no idea. But they should make sure he can't do something like this again.
 
RE: Hit and Run, man not to face criminal charges... (only in FL)

yea...and we wonder why our insurance rates are so high. yet all those "blue hairs" out there(pardon the expression)...ever notice their cars rarely have so much as a scratch on them?

In the wise words of retired race driver Danny Sullivan;

"it isnt what they crash into, it's what they leave in their wake. People over the age of 65 are entitled to a driver's license...people under 65 are entitled to a safe road trip-lets get grandma and grandpa back down to the DMV...all the foreigners will make them think they are on a vacation"
 
RE: Hit and Run, man not to face criminal charges... (only in FL)

Here are some facts of the case to help understand. Over the past couple of weeks the mans son had several conversations with him on the phone. The mans son realized that dad was loosing it. The mans son flew down a few days before the incident. While the mans son was out for a few hours looking for an assisted living facility for dad, dad got the keys to the car and went for a drive. Dad has alzhimers. Police returned to the scene of the crash and found that it was probably the pedestrians fault.

What do you suggest we do with a man in his 90's in this situation? He is already going to be locked up an an a.l.f. till he dies. A driving test probably would not have done anything for this situation unless he took the test in the last few weeks. Besides, we know the biggest mafia in this country (aarp) wont let us do to much to restrict their "rights".

I also suggest that we look at the statistics on this matter. I happen to work down in florida. I can tell you that over 90% of the crashes I work are people under the age of 50. I have lived down here 5 years now and cant remember a single traffic fatality involving an elderly person in a crash. Its always young kids driving too fast and street racing.


If quizzes are quizzical, what are tests?
 
RE: Hit and Run, man not to face criminal charges... (only in FL)

Well if you want to consider statistics here is some more food for thought.
What % of the population is over 65 years of age?
What % of those over 65 still drive ?
What % of those who drive get into car accidents.
All that has to be controlled for the amount driven annually, usually a much lower # for the average over 65y/o.
I am quite certain that the average accident rate for someone over 65 is higher if controlled for the above variables, but unless an accredited study was done to test the hypothesis of older people being more accident-prone. All of this is speculation.

And accidents do happen to everyone.
 
RE: Hit and Run, man not to face criminal charges... (only in FL)

I agree with what you say. I dont have the facts. I could only go by my first hand experience as it directly relates to elderly people and traffic crashes. In the area I work we have one of the largest elderly populations in the country. Though they annoy the heck out of me when I am behind them in traffic, I really dont see them as a significant threat to the motoring public. About a year ago we had a girl in her 20's drinking and driving mow over a kid and take off in my beat. I didnt hear any outrage about young drivers then. I personally work approx. 4 hit and run crashes a month involving injury. I have never worked one involving an elderly person. Only younger people doing stupid things.


If quizzes are quizzical, what are tests?
 
RE: Hit and Run, man not to face criminal charges... (only in FL)

no reason everyone shouldn't get driving tests every few years.

i think they should apply that same logic to drinking and driving, and driving while distracted also.

what is needed is a good, relatively inexpensive, versatile simulator that can be installed in a DMV office and provide a reasonable enough facsimile of real driving to be useful for qualifying drivers.

require an endorsement for talking on the cellphone while driving, and make people pass the driving test on the simulator while talking to an employee on a phone in the simulator. make sure the simulation involves a semi-random "surprise" - a kid or pet running into the street, a driver running a light, a drunk drifting into your lane, etc.

do the same for drinking. allow people to come in drunk, take a breathalyzer, then take the driving test. If they pass, set their limit at what they blew, or .01 lower. if they don't want to take the "drunk test" set their limit at .03 or .04.

fail the old blue hairs if they drive 40 in a 65 too.
 
RE: Hit and Run, man not to face criminal charges... (only in FL)

Dave, you crack me up! I agree with your points, though. Prevention (by testing) would seem to be the best cure. The simulator idea is cool.
 
RE: Hit and Run, man not to face criminal charges... (only in FL)

I think some kind of simulator is the only cost effective way to adequately measure everyone's skill. And if we're going to try to require testing for old people, we should do it for everyone. The drunk driving license might be a tough sell, but i think it's a good idea too. no need to throw alcoholics in jail who need to be at .15 to function and can drive better that drunk than your average 16 yo can sober. And on the other hand, i've seen people drink 1 or 2 drinks, probably getting to .03 or .04, and be completely drunk.

If someone just can't do it in the simulator, for whatever reason, give them an option of paying another $20 or so and taking a real live driving test. Of course no drinking or talking on the cellphone for that one.
 
RE: Hit and Run, man not to face criminal charges... (only in FL)

Dave, something like that is already in place to protect people who can handle their alcohol. Its called field sobriety tests. A cop cant just demand that you take a blood alcohol test. They must establish probable cause that you are intoxicated before they can demand it. This probable cause is almost always video taped for a jury to review. If you function well at a .15 you can pass the tests. If you pass the tests (finger to nose, walk and turn, alphabet starting at d, ending at x) then an officer cant make you take the breathalizer.

If quizzes are quizzical, what are tests?
 
RE: Hit and Run, man not to face criminal charges... (only in FL)

[div class="dcquote"][strong]Quote[/strong]
Dave, something like that is already in place to protect people who can handle their alcohol. Its called field sobriety tests. A cop cant just demand that you take a blood alcohol test. They must establish probable cause that you are intoxicated before they can demand it. This probable cause is almost always video taped for a jury to review. If you function well at a .15 you can pass the tests. If you pass the tests (finger to nose, walk and turn, alphabet starting at d, ending at x) then an officer cant make you take the breathalizer. If quizzes are quizzical, what are tests?
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Not in this state. implied consent law here lets the cops make you blow no matter what.

I knew an alcoholic that passed the field sobriety test, the cop even told him he did fine on them. Made him blow anyway, something like a .18 or a .20. Once the other cop with the breath tester showed up.
 
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