Police: Woman Run Over After Child Accidentally Puts Car In Reverse
CHELMSFORD (CBS) -- A Chelmsford woman was seriously injured after she was pinned down and run over by her own car Sunday morning. The 37-year-old woman's son accidentally put the car in reverse while his mom was loading it, police said.
"A 9-year-old child somehow ended up behind the wheel of a vehicle in the driveway. The mother got caught inside the open driver's door. As the car was backing up, she reached in and she attempted to hit the brake and was knocked down by the door. And it appears from our investigation that she may have been struck by the car," said Chelmsford Police Sergeant Jason Poor.
She was rushed to the hospital with serious injuries, including a head injury, but was able to talk to first responders at the scene.
After the car rolled over the woman, it continued into the road, crossed Route 4, and hit a rock wall. Fortunately, the son in the car was not injured.
"It's very miraculous that this child wasn't injured. Route 4 is probably one of the busiest roads in our town, and the fact that another vehicle wasn't passing at that time is very lucky," Poor said.
However, neighbors are shaken up.
"My wife and her are friends, and we know the kids and the husband and family. Very nice people, and it's just really hard to hear about it the way we heard about it," said neighbor Michael Cerullo.
"This appears to be a terrible accident. The mother sustained serious injuries but is expected to survive at this time," Police Chief James Spinney said.
