Woman, 75, won't face criminal charges in outdoor cafe crash
Police say a 75-year-old driver likely won’t face criminal charges after crashing her Bentley into a busy Miami Beach sidewalk cafe, killing one man and injuring eight others
Your support helps us to tell the story
As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.
Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.
Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election
Andrew Feinberg
White House Correspondent
A 75-year-old driver likely won't face criminal charges after crashing her Bentley into a busy Miami Beach sidewalk cafe, killing one man and injuring eight others, police said.
There were no signs that the woman was impaired on Feb. 24 as she tried to parallel park, Miami Beach police told the Miami Herald.
The woman “suddenly accelerated in reverse," ran over a curb and hit a parked car before crashing into a table with five diners and hitting nearby pedestrians, police said. The beige 1990 Bentley then trapped people underneath as it knocked over a traffic sign and hit a tree.
Gary Prince, 67, of Miami Beach died at a hospital shortly after the crash, police said. Two men, 78 and 61, were seriously injured, a child suffered minor injuries, and five others suffered less serious injuries, police said.
Workers and patrons from at the Call Me Gaby restaurant worked to lift the car off of people.
Miami Beach Police spokesperson Ernesto Rodriguez said the investigation is continuing and the driver could face traffic citations.
The driver was operating the car in a “careless or negligent manner," the police report said, and it wasn't the first time: Court records show she was cited in Broward County in 2015 for driving on the wrong side of a divided highway, paying a $165 fine after pleading guilty.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.