By Caleb Hutton
A 94-year-old woman suffered a “sore forehead” in a crash near the Samish Way on-ramp Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 15.
Harriet Dixon was driving a 2000 Buick Century northbound on Samish Way about 3:25 p.m., when she started a left turn onto Lincoln Street at the stoplight. She didn’t yield to an oncoming 2002 Volkswagen Passat, and the two cars crashed “pretty much head on,” said Bellingham Police Sgt. Shawn Aiumu.
The Passat driver, 19, and a 20-year-old passenger were unhurt.
Dixon, who suffered a head injury, was ticketed. Nobody else was in her car. The police report didn’t note if she was taken to the hospital as a precaution; regardless, her injuries weren’t life-threatening. Bellingham Fire Department spokespeople haven’t responded to a message I left about an hour before this post.
(And on kind of a lighter note, callers originally reported the woman appeared to be about 80 years old. Turned out she was born in June 1918. “Must look good for a 94-year-old,” Aiumu said.)
Update at 4 p.m. Got a call back from the Bellingham Fire Department. Dixon wasn’t taken to the hospital.
A spring chicken, no doubt!
…As previously posted 100 times, beware of the elderly in Buicks…
Another example of the dangers of driving while elderly. I would rather be on the road alongside a gang of unruly, drunk, and speeding teenagers than to suffer the inattention of the old.
I get that at 94, you may not care what happens to you anymore, but that doesn’t mean it’s okay to take someone down with you.
This could have ended tragically.
- I would rather be on the road alongside a gang of unruly, drunk, and speeding teenagers than to suffer the inattention of the old. -
Really?
How fast were the teens driving? Not that an illegal left turn is excusable, but careful driving by the not-at-fault party can help avoid a collision even if the other person is in the wrong.
I doubt the 94 year didn’t “care” – more likely her reaction time, reflexes, ability to respond, etc have diminished with age. While the problem of elderly drivers is an issue, some sensitivity would be nice.
I, for one, would like to see the elderly have to retake the driving test after a certain age to make sure that they are still capable of safely operating a vehicle. Studies show that the elderly do have diminished reflexes and reaction times, in addition to be much less able to see well while driving at night.
Of course there are a lot of good elderly drivers, but many are a hazard. I was almost bowled over in a cross walk by an elderly driver a few years ago in California. After almost hitting me, she careened out of control and hit a parking garage pillar doing about 40mph. So yes, I am a little biased after that scare but still.
Way to go Ms. Dixon. I hope I’m still able to drive at 94.
For all we know this could have been her first traffic violation in the last 80 years. I’ve been driving for 40 years without one ticket.
“more likely her reaction time, reflexes, ability to respond, etc have diminished with age”
Then she should not be driving. That’s akin to knowingly hopping in the driver’s seat while intoxicated.