- Crash involved seven cars at 95 mph in a 35 mph zone.
- Driver was an 83-year-old woman in a Ford Explorer.
- Local officials blamed a mistaken throttle for the crash.
Seven vehicles, a red light, and a Ford Explorer barreling through at nearly triple the speed limit, yet somehow, no one died. In what could have easily been a multi-fatality collision, the occupants of all involved cars walked away from a violent crash in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia.
The wreck was allegedly caused by an 83-year-old woman who reached speeds of up to 95 mph (153 km/h) in a 35 mph (56 km/h) zone. Authorities have since issued a warrant for her arrest and charged her with multiple offenses.
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The shocking crash occurred at the intersection of Dietz Road and Battlefield Parkway on the afternoon of January 19. Dashcam footage shows several cars stopped at a red light before the silver Ford Explorer driven by the 83-year-old speeds into view.
It can be seen slamming into the rear of a white pickup truck and making contact with several other vehicles before flipping over and landing back on its wheels.
Images from Local3News show the wreckage left in the wake of the crash. The Ford Explorer is a total loss. The white pickup it struck is also heavily damaged. A Honda CR-V has its rear-end crumpled, while a white Kia bears significant front and passenger-side impact. A modified Lexus IS300 was caught in the mix, along with a GMC Sierra and a Kia Sorento, both visibly damaged.
Pedal Confusion Under Scrutiny
Investigators with the Georgia State Patrol believe the crash was likely caused by a critical error, one typically seen in low-speed situations but seldom with such serious consequences. The driver, they say, appears to have mistaken the gas pedal for the brake.
What remains unclear is how the Explorer reached such a dangerously high speed without the driver realizing something was wrong. A mistake between pedals can happen in an instant, but traveling 60 mph over the limit suggests several seconds of sustained acceleration.
It also doesn’t explain why she didn’t lift off the throttle and try to hit the other pedal as she approached several stationary cars.
Charges Filed
Police haven’t released the identity of the driver, but she faces several serious charges, including reckless driving, serious injury by vehicle, speeding at 95 mph in a 35 mph zone, and following too closely. The crash has also sparked debate among locals about whether older drivers should be forced to take driving tests to ensure they can still operate a car safely.