Child Left Alone in Vehicle - Pembroke Pines, Florida

When a pick-up truck pulled off of Taft Street in Pembroke Pines, and parked with the rear end still blocking the westbound lane I shook my head, "What the heck is wrong with some people." I thought. Then the drivers door swung opened, causing an on coming car to swerve to avoid hitting it, "Can you believe that?" We, my husband and myself, watched an elderly man get out, walk around the front of the pick-up onto the sidewalk.

His gait made me courious, he moved slowly and seemed to wobble a bit, but he was elderly. He stuffed what looked like a cup or can into the garbage pail by the bus stop bench, yes, he was parked at a city bus stop.

What happened next shocked the heck out of me, the truck started moving in reverse! Traffic was approaching, and cars slowed down, and had to swerve to avoid being struck by or running into the truck. The elderly driver was walking back towards the truck when he noticed it moving, he picked up his pace, made it to the side of the truck and reached inside. Great, at least he had control of the situation, and the truck would stop.

Well, that would have been great, however things got worse.

The truck began picking up speed, perhaps because all four wheels were now on the pavement, and my eyes locked on the mans legs as they began moving quicker, and quicker. It looked liked he was running alongside the truck wilingly, and he may have been at first. With his left arm still inside the window and the rear view mirror, which seemed to be pushing him in a forward motion, pressed against his back, it was obvious that he had no control.

I cringed when the rear wheel hit the median and the elderly man fell to the ground. Was he hurt, would the on coming traffic in the westbound lane see him lying there? Things were really getting scary, the old man was lying in the street, and the truck was still moving in reverse.

Read the full story, and view photos from the scene to find out what happened next, and why my initial disquist for this man, turned to compassion, and then to anger. Then ask yourself how you may have felt?

Why do people do such foolish things?