A woman critically injured in a tragic accident at a Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Longhorn Steakhouse parking lot has died, according to the Murfreesboro Police Department. The incident occurred on December 23, and the woman passed away five days later, on December 28, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
The victim, identified as 61-year-old Cathy Pendergrass from Warrenton, Virginia, was helping a man who had recently suffered a stroke and was unable to use his left side. The man was being assisted by Pendergrass as he attempted to enter a modified Honda CRV, which had been adjusted for use as a mail carrier vehicle with additional controls for the passenger side, including an accelerator and brake.
As the man was in the process of getting into the vehicle, he accidentally hit the gas pedal on the passenger side, causing the vehicle to move in reverse. The car quickly spun out of control and crashed into another parked vehicle. Pendergrass, who was standing outside of the vehicle at the time, was struck by the car during the incident.
Emergency responders rushed Pendergrass to Vanderbilt University Medical Center with critical injuries. Unfortunately, despite efforts to save her, she succumbed to her injuries five days later. Authorities have expressed their condolences to her family and have described the accident as a “freak incident.”
This accident has raised awareness about the dangers of modified vehicles and the potential for unexpected accidents when they are not operated with caution. The Murfreesboro Police Department continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, and further details are expected to emerge in the coming weeks.
