After work last night, Erica and I needed to get some groceries, so we decided to make a quick trip to the store before going home. We came out of the store to find another car with its corner touching our door. We couldn't get in the driver's side at all. We could get in through the passenger's side, but we didn't want to move the car while another one was touching it. Also, we were concerned about the damage the car might have. So we called the police.

The police came. They ran the license plate, and tried to call the owner, but they couldn't reach him. They went into Macey's and paged the owner. After some time, the police came back. "That man walking towards us is the owner", he said, pointing to a 94-year-old man, who had a hard enough time walking. Apparently he'd left his car in neutral when he parked it, and it rolled into ours. We felt so bad for him.

He got into his car, and moved it away, but not before almost hitting the car behind him AND our car again, and Erica, who was standing in front of his car when he pushed on the gas (but it was still in neutral).

There was a minor scratch in our car, and we debated on whether to have the police fill out the report. We decided we needed to fill out the report, just in case the damage is more than we could see. I don't think we'll use it. We don't want to do anything that might cost the old man. Hopefully he'll recognize that he needs to stop driving on his own.

Comments

Gramps said…
Poor guy. After *closely* watching what your Grandpa Groneman went through and how he had such a hard time giving things up and admitting he was dangerous (driving, cooking, etc.) it makes me feel bad for someone like that. He was probably once a vibrant, intelligent person that loved life and made up the backbone of society. From what you describe he's losing his mental capacity to reason. I'm sure his pride was hurt.
Marilyn said…
but the sad part about that is that at that age, they lose their ability to reason, and don't even remember that they had been a problem. I think that the police ought to contact the children of the old guy and let them know what happened so that THEY could make an intelligent decision, and sell his car. It was hard to do with Jack too, but we had to do it for the publics saftely. I feel bad for the old guy too, but not doing something to stop him from doing it in the future could cost some toddlers life. About the only thing Chad and Erica could do to see that happen is say that they will press charges unless his children are apprised of the situation.
Chad said…
The only thing we _might_ do is get the insurance company to redo the door of the car. It's hardly even noticable. We're not going to press charges.

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