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Cantonment Man, 95, Drives Onto Car, Backs Into Grocery Store
November 29, 2014
A 95-year old man drove his pickup onto a car before backing uncontrollably into the Grocery Advantage building in Cantonment Friday afternoon.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a 2001 Ford F150 pickup and a 2004 Nissan Altima were parked in the parking lot facing each other in the store lot. William Gilley of Cantonment pulled his pickup forward and ran up onto the hood of the Altima. He then put the vehicle in reverse in an attempt to free it from the top of the hood of the car. Once the vehicles separated, the pickup traveled backwards into the outside of the Grocery Advantage store .
There were no injuries reported in the crash. Gilley was cited for careless driving by the FHP.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Comments
31 Responses to “Cantonment Man, 95, Drives Onto Car, Backs Into Grocery Store”
Mark T, so at what age must folks give up their license ? What is “that time”. Yeah i suppose all the boat wrecks on the river are to blame on all those older gentlemen enjoying their “earned ” retirement. Oh thats right, there are no boat wrecks.
It almost sounds like you wanted a young family in those tire marks, to support your theory. So you can say you were right. Similiar to those liberals, creating a victim that they can rush to save who didnt ask for anything in the first place.
Look at all the accidents on hwy 29. The majority of which involve people under 40. So until your in that position where you HAVE to drive to get around, just be quiet.
My son an I were in the store when it happened an saw the whole thing. He put the car in Drive and gunned the motor and ran on top of the other car. Smoke was flying everywhere. Then he popped it into Reverse to get off of it. His truck was revving so much it sounded like we were at a race track. People went to the windows to see if he was ok, and then he came off the other car and shot across the parking lot into the entrance of the store. Thank God that no one had tried to go out an help him or they would have been flattened. At the time those of us in the store thought that he had had a seizure or a heart attack. I’m glad he is all right.
I dont agree with ppl who make the stmt “just take his car from him.” Make him stop driving. I think we need to look at each person individually. Ive seen this right taken from other elderly ppl and it just about killed them. We all make mistakes while driving. I am thankful no one was injured included Mr. Gilley. If it is time that he give up driving, then by all means. But who are we to decide that because he is 95 its time to hang up driving and wait to have others drive you where you need to go. Go bless him.
Praying for Mr. Gilley my husband work with one of his family member, accidents happens everyday just Thankful to the good Lord no one was hurt.
I hope someone who knows this man (friends, neighbors, relatives, church family) will be able to take him where he needs to go or run his errands for him from now on. Ninety-five years of age is just too old to be on the roads. He should be able to live out his remaining days being waited on by others. Also, his insurance company will most likely cancel his policy now.
To all those who think this was cute and funny.. What if within those tire black marks, there was a young family in that path !! Too many times I’ve seen this !! It is a serious matter !! I love and respect old people but you can’t keep driving past that time you should give it up !! Plain and Simple !!
Some of you are calling for him to surrender his drivers license or to no longer be allowed to drive, due to an accident. How many 20 and 30 year olds have an accident? Yet, no one is calling for them to take mandatory driving tests. Should we call for the their driving privileges be revoked? Accidents happen people, regardless of an individual’s age. Hypocrisy at its best!
It looks to me like he gave it the gas to get it back over that curb he jumped when he accidently put it in drive and then, when it came free it took off, backwards. I don’t think it had anything to do with his age. Younger drivers have more accidents than older ones, hence the high insurance rates for youngsters.
You tell’em luis.
traumaqueen……
Bless yo heart……..
best thing is no one was hurt
I know Mr. Gilley and he is a nice man who loves to tell his neat war stories It must be horrible to know you have to depend on someone else to go anywhere but it sounds like its time for his family, church family and friends to help him out with his transportation. I’ve been wondering how long before something like this would happen. I’m so thankful there was no one in his way because they would have been killed, thank the Lord that didn’t happen because that would have been a horrible burden for anyone to live with.
Hope Mr. Gilley is okay. That looks like a classic case of whiplash injury.
Glad no shoppers were in the way.
“..looks like he smoked the tires all the way into the building!”
That’s what I noticed. Judging from the damage to that truck bed he must have been going a pretty good speed when he hit the building. If someone would have been coming out of that door it would have killed them.
Time for a full physical. Could he have had a mild stroke or seizure?
I hope he has family that care enough to check thoroughly.
So, he’s 95 and got into an accident, now people say he should give up his license or, have mandatory testing, he probably has a clean driving record and just screwed up, I see people driving who should never have a license and they are of all ages.
Doesn’t really seem like a “senior moment” thing. Seems more like he was frustrated and acted out.
A senior moment driving thing, IMO, has to do with getting confused about traffic signals and right of way.
That being said, being 95 and having a body and or mind that isn’t working right and then getting frustrated, I suppose is just a different type of senior moment?
The additional driving courses for seniors should be advertised more along with the insurance discount incentives that go with them.
Giving up a life time of independence for someone isn’t an easy thing and is a really good reason for the county to extend Public transportation services.
Looking at the photo of the tire marks makes me wonder if mechanical failure was involved,like the throttle hung wide open as he was trying to stop it in reverse? anyway glad no one was injured.
Just because he is elderly does not mean he’s too old to drive nor is he a bad driver. He’s had more than enough experience to correct his faults if he was a bad driver. I’m pretty sure you all have had times where you’ve messed up at the wheel. Don’t criticize this man just because he’s old. Glad noone was injured.
You think it’s time for him to give up driving?…..looks like he smoked the tires all the way into the building!
Maybe he doesn’t have anyone to transport him .just remember you will be old one day. I bet he wasn’t texting or talking on the phone like so many people do that gets in accidents. I don’t see you all saying take their license away, maybe you need to think before you speak
That will BUFF right out!!
LOL
Don’t assume he did this because he’s old. Maybe he’s just a bad driver.
@ traumaqueen, yes they should be tested right along with you and everyone else with a valid drivers license, maybe we can thin down on those who aren’t mentally old enough to drive yet and maybe rid the road of those ever so pesky yet deadly drivers with their Miss Daisy driving skills and Earnhardt attitudes!
LOL!!!
More Proof that motor skills testing should be done more often as we get older..
Careless driving is only a $166. ticket even if you kill a family..
Lookit that~!
Grandpaw “patched out” in reverse. Got himself a new nickname now- call him “Wrong Way Willie”!
(seriously, glad it was only a bit of property damage & maybe it’s time to give up your driving privileges, Mr. Gilley)
Bless his heart! Thankful he nor anyone else was injured, but this clearly a case of being to old to drive, & he should not be behind the wheel.
Still think we don’t need mandatory testing of the elderly from the dmv? I’m glad there were no injuries.
95 wow!!! God bless him:)
Any man tough enough to make it to 95 years of age, gets a pass on this one. In my book anyway.
Glad no one was hurt.
Oops. Glad no one was seriously hurt.
God bless his heart. I feel sorry for him cause you know he feels awful about it all not to mention embarrassed. So glad no one was injured. That was a blessing. Unfortunately there comes a time when our elderly do need to give up their driving privileges for the safety of themselves and others. This situation could have been much worse had he been on the road with oncoming traffic and gotten disoriented.Our if he had backed over a child or anyone that may have been behind him.It is a hard decision and not an easy one to give up but hopefully he will not drive anymore. Just sad. I can’t help but feel bad for him.