In a press release by the Placerville Police Department on Monday, June 8th, they disclosed that they identified the 78-year-old victim of a solo accident in Placerville, California. Carol Dirkse, passed away at a hospital where she was receiving treatment.
The car accident report revealed that officers with the PPD responded to a single-vehicle crash in the elevated garage of a home on 3089 Degolia Street on Thursday, June 4th. When they arrived at the scene, the officers found that Dirkse’s vehicle drove through the rear wall of the garage, overturned, and rested on its roof, about 20 feet below the garage.
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The medics took the victim to Marshall Hospital, where she told officers after regaining consciousness that she mistook the accelerator for the brake as she pulled into her garage. The police said they transferred Dirkse to UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, where she succumbed to her injuries.
The incident remains under investigation, and the PPD do not think drugs or (and) alcohol played a role. There is no additional information.
Older drivers can drive into their 90s depending on their wellbeing, but they sometimes suffer from restrictions that come with age. The United States Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Aging lists some of these restrictions as stiff joints and muscles, eyesight and hearing problems, and slower reflexes.
Another factor that affects older drivers is medications that cause drowsiness and lightheartedness. The institute advises drivers to consult their doctors if they notice any of the preceding, and carry out regular check-ups to ensure they are always safe on the road while driving.
Disclaimer: The Safety Watch article you just read includes information obtained from numerous sources. These sources include, but are not limited to, websites and press releases from law enforcement, the county coroner, fire departments, and other news outlets. While we strive to provide readers with the most accurate information, sometimes the information received is not entirely accurate. For complete details, please refer to an official police report.
The articles published contain sensitive subject matter that may be hard to read by some. We understand that losing a loved one is hard and devastating. Safety Watch’s decision to share the stories is to help others who may be facing the same situations by providing appropriate resources to the general public.