I’m at work today, but I saw this on Newsday.com just a few minutes ago.
Woman, 70, struck by car in Babylon Village
A 70-year-old woman was struck by a car and seriously injured early Wednesday as she tried to cross Montauk Highway in Babylon Village, just down the block from her retirement home, Suffolk police said.
Nancy Mikkelsen, 70, was unconscious after the one-car accident with severe head and internal injuries. She was taken by helicopter to Stony Brook University Medical Center.
The article goes on to say that the incident occurred at 5:38 a.m and that the driver, John Casey, a resident of Lindenhurst, was cited by police for having an unregistered motor vehicle and having switched plates.
It was still dark out at 538AM, the Bayview Rest Home should refrain from letting it’s residents wander the streets of Babylon at that hour. Dangerous,dangerous. Glens Dinette crowd saw it happen.
I live down by the pool where the helicopter arrived to take her over to Stony Brook … the following morning I was up and out at the same time taking pictures of the early morning skies and I hope that when I am 70 and living in a retirement situation I will not be prevented from my early morning pleasure. While a very sad story I am glad that there are laws protecting the rules of the Bayview Rest Home, preventing it from becoming a prison to the paying elderly residents living there. This is not a nursing care facility or an assisted living home(that might impose such restrictions) It is simply a home for the elderly and as such, it is the civil right for the paying residents living there to come and go as they please until such time when they must move because they are no longer able bodied. I hope we protect the rights of the elderly and instead we point the finger of shame to wreckless drivers (hmmm especially those so irresponsible that the vehicle is not even registered) … drivers who speed through our beautiful village where we have pedestrians at every hour.
Good point, Tess. My grandfather lived to be 97 and he enjoyed taking his daily walks right up until the end.
Did Newsday ever say how she fared at the hospital? Is she back at home?
I haven’t seen anything in Newsday or anywhere else. Googling the poor lady’s name brings up this blog as one of the top hits.
I’m sure your grandfather didnt dart across main street,in the rain at 538AM when it was pitch dark out. Additionally, if you ever saw this woman hanging at the library, talking to herself and not exactly in control of her bodily functions, you would agree that she needed a bit more supervision, which apparently the Bayview cant provide. In any event, weathers been great, fair was packed.
But did she really dart across the street in the rain? I’ve been running in the Village in the very early morning hours for years, and I can tell you that cars drive quite differently then, even if it’s dark, even if it’s raining. I’ve been nearly hit several times and I wear a reflective vest and reflective clothing. Cars don’t expect to see pedestrians at that hour, many people seem to think they can make up extra time by speeding, running red & yellow lights, and skipping stop signs. I never wear headphones while running because you’re taking your life in your hands if you do, you need to be able to hear the cars coming. It’s very possible that this lady couldn’t hear or see the car coming, and it was driving too fast. The driver was unregistered after all, not exactly a law-abiding driver. It’s an unfortunate situation all around–it does sound like this lady needed more supervision and care than the adult home could provide, but we don’t know if they were in the process of transferring her or not. And we don’t know anything about her–hell, I talk to myself all the time in public too. I don’t even know what I’m trying to say here, other than that if you’re out in the Village in the early morning hours, watch out for the dangerous traffic. Many people drive like maniacs at that hour.