Car accident conjures up memories of market crash
An 86-year-old Santa Monica man drove his car into a fence that surrounds a private daycare on Saturday, then left the scene. No one was injured.
The man, whose identity wasn’t released, drove out of the Elks Lodge #906 parking lot at 1040 Pico Boulevard at 10:55 p.m., and into the alley. He then plowed straight into Perviz Esmail’s iron gate, which blocks the north side of her home.
After that, he drove east down the alley and abandoned his car. Santa Monica Police found him inside the Elks Lodge a few minutes later.
He was cited for a misdemeanor hit and run and authorities do not believe alcohol was involved. Police seized his driver’s license and paperwork was sent to the Department of Motor Vehicles requesting a review of his driving abilities, said SMPD Lt. Frank Fabrega.
The man’s white Cadillac hit the gate hard enough to break a nearby gas meter, causing the pipe to leak. Santa Monica fire, police and city workers arrived on the scene within minutes and turned off the gas.
Esmail, who lives on Bay Street, was watching television when she heard the crash in her backyard.
“It was very loud and we had absolutely no idea what happened,” she said, adding that when she went outside to investigate, no one was there. “He left the scene.”
Esmail operates a private daycare facility for up to 12 children. Her home is directly across the alley from the Elks Lodge parking lot. The iron gate was pushed within feet of playground equipment in the yard.
Esmail said she was thankful the accident didn’t occur when the backyard was full of children.
The accident has conjured up memories of the recent farmers market tragedy, when 86-year-old Santa Monica resident, Russell Weller, plowed through the Arizona Avenue crowd, killing 10 and injuring close to 80 people.
That accident is still under investigation and no charges have yet been filed against Weller. The incident ignited a national debate about senior citizens’ driving abilities and whether their licenses should be renewed on an annual basis.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 11, 2003. Read the original PDF.