Police: Alcohol not suspected in crash

Associated Press

BRADENTON, FLA.

A 79-year-old woman attempting to maneuver in a Florida parking lot backed into a group of people Sunday, killing three people and injuring four others, authorities said.

A Florida Highway Patrol report released Sunday night indicated the accident wasn’t alcohol related. The report didn’t list any charges for the driver, identified as Doreen Landstra of Palmetto, but said the investigation was continuing.

The accident happened at a mobile home community called the Sugar Creek Country Club at 11:20 a.m. in Bradenton, about 45 miles south of Tampa. Residents had gathered for church services inside a clubhouse building, Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Gregory Bueno said.

The report says Landstra backed out of a parking spot, pulled her 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe SUV forward and needed more room to clear another parked vehicle. At that point, Landstra’s SUV began backing up again and struck seven people. The report doesn’t make clear why she failed to stop before hitting people.