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Elderly Couple Drowns After Car Plunges Into Pond Save Email Print
17 comments
A | A | A

(May 12, 2008)--An elderly Tyler couple died after their car sped down a residential street and drove through the yards of two homes and then plunged into a pond.

Police Monday identified the pair as 87-year-old Jake Smith and his 81-year-old wife, Betty.

Neighbor Doug Marshall says he jumped into the water Sunday night to try to rescue the couple, but said he could not find their car once the headlights went out.

Several police officers went into the water and managed to locate the car.

Police spokesman Don Martin says the vehicle also hit a tree before going into the pond.

It was not immediately clear what caused the accident.
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Posted by: Wb Location: Killeen on May 13, 2008 at 06:31 PM
I will tell you what caused the accident he was Too old to be driving! Thank goodness they didn't take others with them. I recently watched an 8yo die in the street because of an 82yo man and his slow reflexes and bad driving. Only got a very breif story here because she was only brain dead and wasn't officialy dead until days later when they turned the machine off. Very sad they need to screen better.
Posted by: ginny Location: cove on May 13, 2008 at 05:31 PM
i'm 57 never had a ticket, or accident that was my fault.and i am wonam hear me ROARRRRRRRRRR
Posted by: Ashley Location: Waco on May 13, 2008 at 03:21 PM
This is a very sad situation,it would be horrible if it happened to younger adults, but the fact that they were elderly makes it worse. I wish the best for their families is this terrible time.
Posted by: Girls' Rule! Location: Austin on May 13, 2008 at 12:08 PM
Anonymous, you just sound like my grandpa! MACHO MAN!
Posted by: Lauren Location: Coolidge on May 13, 2008 at 09:21 AM
That is sucha tragic loss.
Posted by: waco on May 13, 2008 at 08:28 AM
Anonymous...I cant believe you. Is this all you have to do with your life? Go from story to story and post ridiculous unintelligent comments? Women drivers? are you serious? Have some compassion these are someones grandparents, mother/father, brother/sister, friend...apparently nothing tragic has ever happened to you...but when it does I hope there is someone out there just as rude and stupid as you that posts something great on your story...get a life!
Posted by: Rachel Location: Temple on May 13, 2008 at 07:46 AM
Hello, Anonymous!!! Wake up!!! Women drivers are the safer drivers on the road - who pays the higher insurance rates and gets killed in more accidents driving stupidly- IT'S MEN!!!! Better do some statistical homework, buddy!! By the way, you must be something else to make a sexist comment like this, a coward to remain anonymous and go back to the 18th century where you obviously belong. WOW!!! I wouldn't want to know you and hope I don't.
Posted by: Anonymous on May 13, 2008 at 02:07 AM
i think its the women drivers.
Posted by: Rachel Location: Temple on May 12, 2008 at 10:52 PM
I don't think age matters; I think what matters is the competency of the driver and their physical and mental health. Some people can drive safely at 87 and some can't drive safely at 27. I think renewable tests of competency is something that perhaps we all could benefit from!!!!
Posted by: Just a thought Location: Texas on May 12, 2008 at 10:31 PM
Maybe they wanted to make sure they "went" together. I wonder if one of them may have been ill and the other didn't want to live without the other. Think about it, how many elderly people do any of you know that speed, much less through a neighborhood? Or could the driver have had a stroke or heart attack? Even stroke and heart attack can strike a young person. My great grandmother didn't stop driving until a drunk driver hit her and broke her back and neck. She had never been in an accident and would curse the driver that would not keep up with the speed or stay within the speed. She was a very alert driver. Not all elderly drivers are bad drivers just like not all young drivers are bad drivers.
Posted by: Reality Check Location: Whack em Waco on May 12, 2008 at 08:43 PM
While I will pray for their family for peace, I will call on our lawmakers to pass legislation requiring seniors over 75 to retake the drivers test.
Posted by: Sue Location: Waco on May 12, 2008 at 04:34 PM
Hey BMW, what about these inexperienced 16 yr olds that are out there driving??? Got any answers for that??
Posted by: John E. Location: Salado, TX on May 12, 2008 at 04:24 PM
When you are an elder, you will be saying, "All young people should retake the *DE* course at least five times a year because they are too dangerous!"
Posted by: lynnabell Location: texas on May 12, 2008 at 02:38 PM
Wow thats sad! I think now and days they should have elders retake the *DE* course at least 5 times between the ages of 50 -90 every year until they can't pass it.
Posted by: John E. Location: Salado, TX on May 12, 2008 at 02:07 PM
We should all keep a record of people who complain about elderly drivers. Then, when the complainer gets to be 87 years old and still wants to drive, we can give them a copy of their complaint and say, "Sorry, you are against elderly people driving, so you CAN'T!"
Posted by: BMW Location: TX on May 12, 2008 at 01:00 PM
87-years-old, And still driving, Think GOD he did not kill anybody else!Come on, cant beleive that they let people drive at that age.
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