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Police Find Wrong-Way Freeway Driver…And She’s 84

We brought you the video yesterday of a station wagon driving the wrong way down Philadelphia’s I-95. At that time, however, police had no idea who the driver was. Now they do, and she’s an 84-year-old elderly woman from Delaware.

To refresh your memory:

From WABC 7 in Philadelphia:

Police say an elderly woman from Wilmington, Delaware has been interviewed by investigators for driving the wrong way on Interstate 95 in suburban Philadelphia, leading to a number of crashes.

The woman, an 84-year-old, was interviewed at her home, according to the Pennsylvania State Police. They say charges are pending.

It was jarring to watch as the driver, and she may not have even have realized she was going north in one of the southbound lanes on I-95.

Comments (37)

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  • upsetagainin2010
    Posted on November 1, 2010 at 1:19am

    carl mcpherson; That is a dumb thing to say!!!

    Report Post »  
  • Carl McPherson
    Posted on November 1, 2010 at 12:27am

    How can this surprise anyone? I’ve seen enough elderly women drive their cars through McDonalds to not even pay attention to stories like this anymore. It’s like the sun rising in the East.. it’s a given.

    Report Post » Carl McPherson  
  • White Devil
    Posted on October 31, 2010 at 10:44pm

    God Bless you “4loveUSA” for calling me a youngster. 8^)

    Report Post » White Devil  
  • valarie
    Posted on October 31, 2010 at 8:18pm

    There comes a time – in all of our lives – when giving up the privilege of driving is for our own and everyone else’s safety.

    Report Post » valarie  
  • Alexandra1214
    Posted on October 31, 2010 at 3:15pm

    Oh darn …. I mean to say ….. [I know my daughter is Safe in God's hands] … NOT {I know my daughter is afe in God’s hands}

    Did any of you see Glenn’s Christmas Sweater, A Return to Redemption, last year?

    Report Post » Alexandra1214  
  • Alexandra1214
    Posted on October 31, 2010 at 3:08pm

    I know that area well …. sigh … 23 years ago …. my only child, my 4 year daughter & myself were in an Fatal accident on a sunny day in November … the woman … 86 years old …. not a scratch on her, I found out later … why? you ask …. because, like a drunk person she was relaxed and went with the flow of things …. SHE FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL … it was 1:30 pm … naptime? …. It didn’t matter that my daughter was in her car seat….. The woman fell asleep … hit the concrete bump in the road and went airborn… landing on my car … a station wagon, mid size ,,, pushing the engine into me and me into my daughter …. I was flown by helicopter to a Philadelphia Hospital where they kept me in a medically induced coma for weeks while they told my family that I had a 5 percent chance to live …. I wasn‘t able to attend my daughter’s funeral, and my family litterally fell apart … The Woman … didn’t have a scratch on her … her family didn’t even tell her what had happened … she lived into her 90′s … Do I Hate her ….. No … I have forgiven her … otherwise I would be eaten up with hate …. I know my daughter is afe in God’s hands … I have an 82 year old father that is now worrying me … so I am keeping track of how he is driving and such … doing the driving for him when it comes to big family events … BUT someday, soon … we will have to have … That Talk … it is a tough talk to have …. When to take away the keys …
    After my accident … my 84 year Grandfather, who ADORED his Great-Granddaughter, put his keys down as his eyes were failing … and he told me that “he couldn’t live himself if his driving ever caused anyone to be injured” ……

    Report Post » Alexandra1214  
  • CarolinaGirl
    Posted on October 31, 2010 at 10:29am

    No one talking on cell phones, no one eating, no one applying makeup, no one under the influence of alcohol or drugs, no one over the age of 80, allowed behind the wheel of an automobile!

    Report Post » CarolinaGirl  
  • K9 Mamma
    Posted on October 31, 2010 at 6:47am

    Scarey? Yes. But what she did is no worse than everyone out there who is guilty of distracted driving…yacking on a cell phone, texting, shaving, looking at a GPS, putting on make up, yelling at your kids, or changing the radio station….or driving under the influence. Was she a danger to every driver on that highway that day? Yes. But no more so than the distracted drivers. It only take a nano second of inattention for an accident to happen, yet other than a rallying cry, we aren’t able to get drivers who should know better to put down the cell phones – including the guy who shot this video on his cell phone.

    I was rear ended two years ago. Sitting at a stop light minding my own business, when WHAM! The guy who hit me slammed into me at 50 mph. He was 36 years old. He was not an elderly person…he was talking on a cell phone. Every day I see people on cell phones, etc. who nearly cause accidents, so until you can also get them off the road, let the elderly folks alone with the “make ‘em take a test at age x“ or ”make them surrender their licenses”. Yes, age and poor eyesight, all those things that go along with getting older do slow your reflexes and inhibit your ability to drive safely, but no more so than the distracted drivers out there who are “young”. You take a chance with your life everytime you get into a vehicle.

    Should they give up their licenses? Probably. And I’m not saying that they should be driving at 90. But think about how you all are sounding…“take their licenses for the public good”…sounds a bit like socialist government control to me. This is another personal and family decisions that some on here think the government should control.

    Report Post »  
    • 8seconds
      Posted on October 31, 2010 at 7:41pm

      When you say “let the family decide” you are assuming that all 82 year olds have a family somewhere who would make that choice.

      Report Post »  
  • MrButcher
    Posted on October 30, 2010 at 11:53pm

    this is like Jackass for old people.

    losing your facilities and natural abilities is hard to confess and admit.

    i bet she is a tea party member.

    MrButcher  
    • garyellisgunn
      Posted on October 31, 2010 at 9:58am

      More than likely a Obama Dem. Headed the wrong way against the general public, trying to speed in order to get home regardless of the accidents that prevail, driving a vehicle with no sense of damage occuring or people hurt

      Report Post »  
    • EqualJustice
      Posted on October 31, 2010 at 11:23am

      HAHA It’s like get the hell out of our way. We won so we TRUMP you and we can do whatever we want. YUP, She’s a DEM!

      Report Post » EqualJustice  
    • eflatminor
      Posted on October 31, 2010 at 11:48am

      To draw such an asinine conclusion speaks VOLUMES about you.

      Report Post »  
  • joseph Fawcett
    Posted on October 30, 2010 at 10:02pm

    I thank God too that no one was hurt either. I hope if this is the woman that she not be allowed to drive anymore for the safety of the public.

    http://www.josephfawcettart.com western artist

    Report Post » joseph Fawcett  
  • Amethystmoon
    Posted on October 30, 2010 at 9:30pm

    There needs to be some sort of volunteer organization to drive the elderly places, when they are at a point they can no longer drive.

    Report Post »  
  • dontbotherme
    Posted on October 30, 2010 at 9:08pm

    My husband & his siblings had to sell his Mother’s car in order to stop her from driving. She was in her 80s. She was very angry, but had plenty of volunteer chauffeurs to drive her around. I am in my late 50s & am loosing my vision. It’s hard to face the fact that someday soon I must give up the realization of independence. Safety first.

    Report Post »  
  • stang289
    Posted on October 30, 2010 at 8:24pm

    a democrat

    Report Post » stang289  
  • Sage0925
    Posted on October 30, 2010 at 7:39pm

    Something to be said for periodic driving tests, once you are of the age to get Social Security. Actually, given the way a lot of people drive these days, might be good for everybody. Driving is a privilege, not a right. And if you test everybody, say, every other time they are up for getting their licenses renewed, then the seniors can’t bitch that they are being singled out.

    Report Post »  
  • Olael
    Posted on October 30, 2010 at 7:37pm

    You should be required to take another driver’s test at a certain age. The whole idea of being in control of thousands of pounds of metal at high speeds doesn’t seem to phase people at all.

    Report Post »  
  • 4loveUSA
    Posted on October 30, 2010 at 7:37pm

    Not to worry-the Obama care-less will knock us off soon-caus thats the plan-I”m 78-and can work circles around a lot of youngsters-who are 50-but will they have those bracelets-that tell when its time to go?

    Report Post » 4loveUSA  
  • hisuelos
    Posted on October 30, 2010 at 7:36pm

    Bless her heart! Our family prayed daily, nightly for YEARS that our mother would not hit someone and kill him/her or injure someone for life. Her car had more additional paint on the sides from suction between the cars she would pass at a high rate of speed and her car. It wasn’t until months after her funeral that I realized our family had been spared so much by her dying “before her time” at 86 years of age: she never knew how poorly she drove and how she scared us all to death and we never had to take her keys away from her although that was just around the corner for us. It’s a hard time for us older folks to let it go, and has to be way hard for our children to realize they must now retire the captains of the team and step up to bat.

    Report Post »  
  • mamawalker
    Posted on October 30, 2010 at 7:33pm

    Almost as unbelievable as illegals getting a license – most of the time the elderly keep driving because there isn’t a system where doctors call and have their license revoked. My mom has a broken arm and Alzheimer disease and still has her license. Her doctor told her not to drive but she still has her license and was driving. As hard as it was, I had to take her keys and she was plenty angry – better angry than her being behind the wheel like this woman. I also know three people in my town who have been killed by illegal aliens and most of the time they get deported and don’t serve time. We really do need to fix these problems and it needs to be done locally, not nationally!!!

    Report Post »  
  • BSdetector
    Posted on October 30, 2010 at 6:52pm

    So they took her license away, right? …right?

    Report Post » BSdetector  
  • felina g
    Posted on October 30, 2010 at 6:34pm

    Prolly trying to get out of paying the Estate Tax by Dec. 31.

    Report Post »  
  • Psychosis
    Posted on October 30, 2010 at 6:27pm

    lol my grandpa refused to stop driving, and wouldnt give me the keys, so i pulled the spark plugs from the car, and removed the computer. then i went to his mechanic…..g-pops never went to anyone else….and explained it to him.. couldnt fix the car g-pops couldnt drive…..its been 10 yrs now (hes 94) and i finally told him recently what i had done…he threw his cane at me but he realized it was for everyone’s safety. them old badgers sometimes get it , but if they dont the price will be high

    Report Post » Psychosis  
  • DagneyT
    Posted on October 30, 2010 at 6:24pm

    I will never forget seeing a Alzheimers patient woman doing this same thing on I-70 just outside of Grand , and the scared policemen running ahead of her, because they could not get her to turn around. Scary!

    Report Post » DagneyT  
  • heavyduty
    Posted on October 30, 2010 at 6:16pm

    My dad was 82 when I stopped him from driving. I didn’t want to do it, but when I rode with him and he drove on a two lane back road with a lot of curves on the wrong side of the road. When we got out of the pickup I took the keys out of the ignition. He ask me what I was doing, and I told him I was saving our lives. He was mad at first, but he soon got over it when his best friend died in an accident because he pulled out in front of a big rig. His friend never knew what hit him. You might not like it, but sometimes it is better to have them mad at you, than them losing everything they have because of law suits. I hope this lady quits driving soon because next time she might not be so lucky.

    Report Post »  
  • Zcat
    Posted on October 30, 2010 at 5:16pm

    How sad! I hope her kids step in and consider its time for their mom to stop driving!

    Report Post »  
  • grandmaof5
    Posted on October 30, 2010 at 5:15pm

    Boy, the angels were working hard yesterday, riding on alot of shoulders. Thank goodness no one was injured.

    Report Post »  
    • ron the veteran
      Posted on October 30, 2010 at 5:36pm

      John McCain we found your mom!

       
    • CatB
      Posted on October 30, 2010 at 6:03pm

      Not surprising … my father had Parkinson’s, and Macular degeneration and he would not give up his license. When asked if he was still driving he would smartly say “I still have a license”. Well they finally the caught up with him … I couldn’t do anything without a doctor and they “tested” him and said that he could care for himself .. the man could not make coffee or use a microwave … certainly should not have been driving — but it wasn’t until a year when the renewal required an eye test did he lose his license. I prayed everyday that he didn’t kill someone.

      I now live in Florida and I pray everyday that someone doesn’t kill me!

      Report Post »  
    • walkwithme1966
      Posted on October 31, 2010 at 12:26am

      I sure hope my kids take the cars keys away from me when I start doing that – wow – that was just luck and God watching over everybody!! http://maboulette.wordpress.com

      Report Post » walkwithme1966  
    • rebel
      Posted on October 31, 2010 at 2:33am

      too bad this wasnt in pasadena. the clip would be much better with a fitting musical soundtrack

      Report Post » quiet little lamb  
    • AudemusJuraNostraDefendere
      Posted on November 1, 2010 at 1:44pm

      I want to add a comment from ‘the other side’ of this story. At the age of 37 I was hit by a 78 year old lady with Alzheimers. She ran a traffic light on a major highway (one of those ‘left turn when clear’ lights) and clobbered us. There was a policeman behind her in the turn lane when it happened. He spent a half hour trying to get her to understand she was supposed to have stopped and proceeded only when clear, but he was wasting his time. The fact is this wreck changed my life…I suffered from whiplash and undiagnosed (at the time) carotid artery damage in my neck that led to me having a stroke 6 weeks after the wreck. Now, 8 years later, I am still living with limited fine motor skills in my left hand and continual short term memory issues. The memory is the hardest part for someone who once had a photographic memory. :( Carotid artery dissection, the term for my stroke causing diagnosis, is not common, but more commonly occurs in women in their 30s and due to an injury or blow to the head or neck. Had this woman’s family, who had to have known she had no business driving, taken the keys from her, they would have, without ever knowing it, made a tremendous difference in my life! So, speaking for someone who’s been there…please don’t let your elderly family members drive when they are no longer safely able to do so….THE LIFE YOU SAVE/PROTECT MAY BE YOUR NEIGHBOR, FRIEND, CHILD, GRANDCHILD!!

      Report Post » AudemusJuraNostraDefendere  
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