Elderly Driver Loses Control, Hits Several Cars At Fitness Center

ORLAND PARK, IL -- An 79-year-old woman appears to have lost control of her vehicle and careened into several parked cars in a lot early Thursday afternoon. The accident happened at the Orland Park Health and Fitness Center, 15430 West Ave., Orland Park. The woman was taken to the hospital to be treated for her injuries.

Carlos Torres, an employee of Service One Access, had just finished a window cleaning job at the fitness center and was putting tools away around 12:30 p.m. when he heard a collision in the parking lot. Torres said he heard cars being flung when he ran over to the elderly driver’s vehicle.

“There was an elderly lady in the car. I opened her door to make sure she was okay,” Torres said. “Even though her foot was on the brake the car was still in drive and accelerating.”

The woman was talking but appeared to be in shock, Torres said. He managed to put the vehicle in park and shut off the engine.

“She was holding her arm and was immobile,” Torres added. “She kept saying the car wouldn’t stop and was accelerating by itself.”

Torres’s quick actions may have prevented the car from jumping the curb and possibly hitting children in the pool or adults using the fitness center. The woman’s condition is unknown. No other injuries were reported.

The driver hit four unoccupied, parked vehicles. Orland Park police said it appeared that the woman hit the gas pedal instead of the brake on her vehicle. No violations were issued because the accident happened on private property, police said.

Photos by Todd Sherman | Northern Illinois Fireground