WATCH ABOVE: Mayville police say a 92-year-old man who hit nine cars in a parking lot Friday can keep his licence – at least for now. Michael Schlesinger reports from Dodge County.
TORONTO – A 92-year-old Wisconsin man has been allowed to keep his driver’s licence despite slamming into nine cars in a parking lot Friday.
“I can tell you in 23 years of law enforcement, I’ve never seen anything like this,” Mayville Police Chief Christopher MacNeill told WISN.
It all began when Russell Kerr, 92, backed his minivan out of its parking spot, began to pull forward and went head-on into the back of the neighbouring vehicle. The impact pushed another car out of its spot and nearly hit another moving car.
READ MORE: Clumsy driver struggles to back out of parking spot
And that’s when the incident got worse. Much worse.
“His foot got stuck on the accelerator, and from that point, he panicked and lost control of his vehicle,” MacNeill explained.
Security footage released shows Kerr slam his auto in reverse – smashing into a sport utility vehicle behind him. He then immediately pulls away with a sweeping right turn that takes the front bumper off yet another parked car.
As Kerr rushes to escape the parking lot, another ill-advised right turn causes his minivan to collide with two pickup trucks – the first of which angered the driver so much that they got out and chased Kerr on foot.
Wisconsin’s worst driver?
The situation played out similar to a head-scratching event in Calgary where a driver had trouble backing their car out of a parking spot. In that instance, the person behind the wheel was dubbed “Calgary’s worst driver” by a local police officer and only received a $115 fine.
READ MORE: Calgary’s worst driver receives $115 ticket
But what’s even more remarkable about the recent Wisconsin incident, according to an ABC report, is the fact that Kerr will keep his licence despite the list of damages. Police simply don’t have the authority to take his licence away.
In Wisconsin, there is no age restriction on senior drivers. Licences just need to be renewed every eight years and applicants may have to undergo a vision test.
Efforts to shorten the renewal period, especially for seniors, have so far been unsuccessful.
According to the official website of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, “Statistics show that senior drivers are the safest drivers because they are experienced, knowledgeable and responsible.”
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