A 79-year-old Florida woman drove over seven people and killed three while backing out of a church parking spot. Doreen Landstra was backing out of the space in an OAP mobile home community when she lost control of her SUV, drove over seven people, killed three and landed in a creek.
Landstra, a former choir director, was leaving church when, according to witnesses, she put her SUV into reverse instead of drive. The accelerator then apparently got stuck and Landstra lost control of the vehicle and was unable to stop it careening out of control.
Lt Gregory Bueno, a Florida Highway Patrolman said charges are still pending. She killed three - Johanna Dijkoff, 80 Wilhelmina Paul, 70 and Margaret Vanderlaan, 72. Four others sustained serious injuries and were taken to hospital.
Witness Jan Verstveg told news; "I heard screams. Somehow the pedal got stuck. It was all a terrible accident!"
Landstra's 87-year-old husband was also in the car, but neither had any injuries. Landstra was interviewed by police at the scene and then went home, according to Bay News 9.
Bueno was unable to speculate on any possible charges Landstra may face for the killings, but that the accident was not alcohol related.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
