Centenarian Involved In Fatal Car Accident
In Davie, a teenaged girl was struck by a 100-year-old driver on her way to school and later died as a result of the injuries she suffered in the crash.
In an article that appeared on the NBC Miami website, authorities say that 16-year-old Melani Rivera passed away on Monday after being hit on her way to her school bus stop on Thursday. Rivera had been attempting to cross Davie StrNova Drive when she was struck by a Jeep Compass being driven by Rosamond Preseau.
The girl was rushed to nearby Broward General Hospital with traumatic head injuries. She was being treated in the intensive care unit of the hospital. According to a post on Facebook by her mother, Melani Rivera ultimately succumbed to her injuries and passed away on Monday.
Authorities say that Preseau remained at the scene of the accident until she was released by law enforcement officers. So far, no charges have been filed in the case.
The United States Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that there were over 40 million licensed drivers who were age 65 and older in 2015. Safety experts at AAA indicate that seniors are safe drivers because they are more likely to obey speed limits, wear seat belts don’t drink and drive and overall are inclined to take far fewer risks than other drivers when behind the wheel.
Even with this in their favor, elderly drivers are also more likely to become confused and mistake the gas for the brake, not see a road hazard, other vehicles or a pedestrian in front of them. These are the kinds of mistakes that can cost lives. Even though many elderly drivers never receive so much as a parking violation, they can still be a danger to themselves and to others. Many insurance companies and physicians around the country have advocated for retesting and refresher driving courses for elderly drivers in an effort to keep the roadways safer for everyone.