An 89-year-old Wisconsin woman has been charged with felony hit-and-run after allegedly striking a 9-year-old girl walking to school last month.
Last Monday, prosecutors charged Darlene Adam, 89, with hit-and-run causing injury. On October 28, she allegedly struck 9-year-old Lenci Lamberg in a crosswalk near J.E. Jones Elementary School in Cudahy before fleeing the scene.
Cudahy police tracked Adam down after discovering her car two blocks away at Aurora St. Luke’s South Shore Hospital, where she claimed to have an appointment.
Adam informed investigators that she believed she had struck either a rock or a construction barrel.
The crash left Lenci with a concussion and other injuries. She was able to return to school on November 4, the day after her tenth birthday.
Adam said last Monday that it was an accident and that she had never seen Lenci. She also stated that she will not be driving again.
“I’m giving up my license,” she explained.
The event brings up the question of when older individuals should quit driving.
“Not all the elderly are lousy drivers. Lauren O’Desky, the owner of Oasis Senior Advisors, explained that age alone is not a reason to stop driving.
She suggests that if you believe your loved one is in difficulty, take a ride with them and talk about next steps before something catastrophic happens.
“The idea isn’t to take away independence. “The goal is to maintain independence while also ensuring your loved one’s and other drivers’ safety,” she explained.
Adam is not in custody. If convicted, she faces up to nine months in jail.
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