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West Vancouver nonagenarian driver crashes into fence

Vehicle left with extensive damage, but no injuries

A 90-year-old woman who hit the gas instead of the brake, plowing her car into a fence in West Vancouver, will likely have to take her driver’s licence test again.

West Vancouver police responded to a call from a member of the public about the accident in the 1600-block of Marine Drive Monday morning after the elderly driver accidentally struck a metal fence in a parking lot.  

Police said it appears the driver mistakenly hit the accelerator instead of the brake, causing her to smash into the fence and resulting in extensive damage to the vehicle.

Fortunately there were no injuries to either the driver or bystanders; however, police have submitted a request to the superintendent of Motor Vehicles to retest the driver.

“We’ll examine whether or not there was a mechanical problem with the vehicle, but at this point the investigation indicates it was possibly a driver error,” said Const. Jeff Palmer, West Vancouver police spokesman.

Palmer said accidents like these involving elderly drivers are not uncommon in the area.  

“It doesn’t happen every day but we have had a number of investigations over the years involving the accidental acceleration that have involved elderly drivers.”

He said anyone concerned about another person’s ability to drive are welcome to contact authorities confidentially with their concerns, who will then submit them for review by the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles.