A tragic incident unfolded in the Lawnwood community of Fort Pierce last Saturday afternoon, as a 65-year-old woman from Massachusetts was killed when a Jeep Grand Cherokee operated by a 38-year-old woman crashed into a residential pool area. According to reports by CBS12, the vehicle veered off the road shortly after 2 p.m. on the 1600 block of Laurel Leaf Lane and struck the pedestrian, who was then pinned beneath the car.
Witnesses and nearby residents were shaken by the calamity. "It was very horrible and also a freak accident, like lightning striking," neighbor Trigg Routh recounted, attempting to quickly make sense of the chaos. Routh's account of the harrowing bang that agitated his own abode was informed by an interview with WPBF. He rushed to the scene, only to find the driver unresponsive and the victim trapped underneath the vehicle. "I'm screaming on the phone to the 911 operator thinking if I scream louder, they'll get an ambulance here faster," he said.
Authorities from the Fort Pierce Police Department suspect that the driver may have suffered a medical emergency prior to the accident. The extent of the crash site warranted a closure of parts of S. Lawnwood Circle for several hours, as St. Lucie County Fire Rescue worked diligently to recover the victim. Officials have yet to release the identities of both the victim and the driver as the investigation continues.
The collision, which had the vehicle not only pierce through hedges but also crash into more fencing and a house, ultimately came to a halt in one of the home's bedrooms. The 65-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene. As the community grieves, Routh expressed a sentiment felt by many, saying, "Life's not fair. This was a horrible, freak accident. Just want to pray for her and her family." The police department is actively asking for any witnesses or those with useful information to assist by contacting them at 772-467-6800, as reported by WPBF.
