STUDIO CITY—An 88-year-old woman was killed on Monday, June 1, when her husband accidentally ran her over while backing out of a driveway. She was identified as Dorothy Elizabeth West.
Police were called to 10840 W. Wrightwood Lane in Studio City around 1:15 p.m. West was pronounced dead at the scene. A crisis concealing team was sent to the scene shortly after to help her husband, who is also in his 80s, Detective Sgt. Greg Fuqua of LAPD’s Valley Traffic Division told the Los Angeles Daily News. The husband’s name has not been released to the public.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, over 5,560 seniors were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2012. Fatal crash rates are highest among drivers older than 85 due to increased susceptibility to injury, even though senior citizens are more likely to drive safely than younger drivers.
The Los Angeles Police Department ruled the woman’s death as an accident.
