An 87-year-old woman tragically lost her life after a vehicular incident resulted in her car crashing into a residence in southeast Port St. Lucie, Florida.
On a Thursday afternoon, Port St. Lucie Police reported a fatal incident involving an elderly driver. Sgt. Dominick Mesiti, a spokesperson from the police department, confirmed that the incident occurred shortly before 4 p.m. as officers responded to a call from the 700 block of Southeast Woodbine Road. This location is part of a residential area near Southeast Becker Road, situated east of Florida’s Turnpike.
The victim, identified as Zelpha Watson, was found behind the wheel of a 2010 Toyota Corolla. Despite immediate medical attention, she passed away at Cleveland Clinic Tradition Hospital. The preliminary findings from the investigation suggest that Ms. Watson was navigating a traffic circle located at the intersection of Southeast Woodbine Road and Southeast Veranda Preserve Boulevard. According to Mesiti, the vehicle entered westbound through the traffic circle before an abrupt stop followed by rapid acceleration.
In a distressing sequence of events, the Toyota continued its path through several backyards, eventually coming to a stop after colliding with a house on Woodbine Road. Fortunately, the home suffered no structural damage and no individuals inside were injured, though the incident understandably caused significant distress among the local community.
Sgt. Mesiti noted that the investigation is ongoing, with authorities considering the possibility of a medical emergency preceding the crash. This aspect is under particular scrutiny to determine any contributing factors that may have led to the incident. The investigation remains in the early stages, requiring careful analysis of the circumstances surrounding the sudden acceleration and subsequent crash.
This unfortunate event highlights the inherent risks associated with driving, particularly for elderly individuals. As the investigation continues, authorities are focused on uncovering all elements that contributed to this tragic outcome, offering insights that could inform future preventive measures.
