An 88-year-old woman lost her life after losing control of her car on icy North Frontage Road Sunday morning.
The woman, Elizabeth Mohr, was driving between Howe and Dwight streets around 7:58 a.m. when the car skidded and hit a pole on the right side of the road, bounced off, then came to rest on the opposite side of the street, according to police Lt. Rob Criscuolo and fire Battalion Chief Billy Gould.
Yale-New Haven Hospital nursing and security staffers happened to be passing by and pulled the woman from the car, then starting giving her CPR. The woman had suffered a heart attack.
Firefighters arrived and took over. They administered CPR and transported her by ambulance to Yale-New Haven, where she was pronounced dead.
“The vehicle’s speed has yet to be determined but Investigators, noting the significant damage to the car, believe whatever the speed, it was too fast for the road condition,” reported police spokesman Officer David Hartman.
Icy road conditions caused up to 40 car accidents throughout the city Sunday morning, according to Hartman. Many others involved injuries, though those injuries were described as minor. The city sent out emergency calls to New Haveners warning of dangerous traveling conditions. The National Weather Service issued a freezing rain advisory for the state, through 11 a.m.
My goodness. Why do we live in a region where 88-year olds drive? When I get to be 88, I hope I don't have to drive anywhere.