Jun 3, 2009 9:16 pm US/Eastern
Several Hurt When Struck By Minivan In Plymouth
Elderly Driver Loses Control Of Vehicle
PLYMOUTH (WBZ) ―
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A minivan driven by an elderly woman went out of control and struck several people in Plymouth.
WBZ
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The accident happened as a crowd gathered for the dedication of a traveling Vietnam Memorial exhibit.
WBZ
Several people were injured Wednesday afternoon when a minivan driven by a 73-year-old woman struck them as they gathered for a ceremony honoring Vietnam War veterans, police said.
None of the injuries was life-threatening, police said. Seven people, including the driver, were treated at Jordan Hospital and released, hospital officials said.
The driver had just dropped her husband off at the Vietnam Moving Wall on Water Street before losing control of the vehicle. It rolled across the grass and struck several people, police said.
"They were yelling and telling (her) to stop," Corey Dris, who witnessed the accident, told WBZ. "A few people were putting their hands on the hood of the car trying to stop (her)."
"There were two people on the ground in the back," said Charles Sooy, another witness. "They weren't hurt too bad but they were on the ground. … I moved up to the front and one woman was under the car. They were pushing the car back off her."
Most of the injured were merely "shaken up," police Chief Ed Bradley said. He said the vehicle was moving "at a fairly slow pace."
The cause of the accident was unknown, but Bradley said it was suspected the driver might have had a medical problem.
Police did not release the driver's name. There was no word on whether she might face charges.
The crash happened some 15 minutes before the scheduled 4 p.m. start of the ceremony. If it had happened even five minutes later, more people would have been seated with their backs to the minivan.
The Vietnam Moving Wall is a half-size version of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. It will be in Plymouth through Sunday.
The ceremony went on as scheduled.
"It certainly wasn't the opening that we expected," said Kevin Ryan, commander of American Legion Post 40, which is hosting the exhibit.
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