You don’t expect a parked vehicle in your own driveway to become a hazard. Driveways are where cars rest, not where emergencies begin. But that’s exactly what happened Sunday morning in Port St. Lucie, Florida, when a 78-year-old woman was struck and killed by her own SUV just steps from her front door.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, as reported by CBS 12 News, the woman died after her 2016 Lincoln MKX rolled backward and struck her. She was standing beside the vehicle at the time. The crash happened just before 11 a.m. in the 100 block of Southeast El Sito Court, and the investigation remains active.
The circumstances surrounding the incident are, to put it plainly, unusual. Her 59-year-old son was sitting in the front passenger seat when he attempted to start the SUV from that position, reaching across to press the brake pedal with one hand while pushing the start button with the other. Shortly after, the Lincoln rolled backward. The open driver’s door struck the woman and knocked her to the ground.
She was transported to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center and Heart Institute, where she later died from her injuries. No charges have been announced. The Florida Highway Patrol’s Traffic Homicide Unit is continuing to review the evidence.
Florida Highway Patrol Says the SUV Was Parked
That’s the question most people reading this story will immediately ask, and it’s the right one. At this point, investigators have not said what caused the Lincoln to move. Whether the vehicle experienced a mechanical issue, whether the brake wasn’t fully engaged, or whether some other factor contributed has not been determined. Until the Traffic Homicide Unit releases its findings, that answer remains open.
The son’s attempt to start the vehicle from the passenger side is worth noting. Push-button ignition systems on modern vehicles are designed to operate from the driver’s seat, where the brake pedal is within natural reach. Attempting to operate both the brake and the start button simultaneously from the passenger side is an awkward maneuver at best. Whether that contributed to the outcome is something investigators will be examining closely.
The Unusual Circumstances Have Left Many People Asking Questions
The case has sparked discussion online, with many readers questioning how a parked SUV could begin moving while someone attempted to start it from the passenger seat. At this point, the Florida Highway Patrol has not said what caused the vehicle to roll backward.
Investigators have also not announced whether the SUV experienced a mechanical problem or whether another factor contributed to the crash. Those answers may come as the Traffic Homicide Unit continues reviewing the evidence.
As with any fatal vehicle incident, investigators will work to determine exactly how the SUV began moving. The Florida Highway Patrol has not released any findings or indicated whether driver error, vehicle condition, or another issue played a role.
No charges have been announced, and the investigation remains active.
Until troopers release their final findings, exactly why the parked SUV rolled backward remains unanswered.