VENTURA : Woman Crushed by Her Friend’s Car
A 56-year-old North Hills woman was crushed to death Sunday night while opening the garage door for her longtime friend, whose car surged forward and ran her down.
Ventura police said Mary Ann Burr, 54, stopped in front of the garage of her house on Luna Drive about 5:35 p.m. Sunday and waited for her passenger, Patrice Laurel, to open the garage.
Burr has multiple sclerosis and her car is equipped with special adaptive devices. As Laurel opened the door, the car accelerated forward unexpectedly, pinning Laurel between the garage wall and the vehicle’s passenger side.
Lt. Pat Miller said Burr was unable to assist her friend because of her disability, but neighbors came to her aid and called for help.
Laurel was rushed to Ventura County Medical Center, where she died of internal injuries during surgery at 9:45 p.m. Sunday.
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