PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — A 75-year-old woman remains in critical condition after she was struck by two different vehicles in suburban Boca Raton Monday evening, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.
“Whoever this is really needs to come forward,” said Marci Edwards, who lives next door to the victim. “She’s like the nicest woman ever and she walks daily for exercise and to keep herself healthy and strong.”
Edwards says Karen Kesner was out for a nightly walk when the crash happened at 8:08 p.m. near the intersection of Palmetto Park Road and Ponderosa Drive.
PBSO said Kesner was walking north along the east side of Ponderosa Drive at the intersection with Palmetto Park Road. She was crossing Palmetto Park Road in the crosswalk.
At the same time a vehicle was traveling eastbound on Palmetto Park Road, striking Kesner.
PBSO said Kesner landed on the roadway and the vehicle came to a stop east of the point of impact.
A second vehicle was traveling southbound on Ponderosa Drive at the intersection with Palmetto Park Road. That vehicle made a left turn onto eastbound Palmetto Park Road shortly behind the first vehicle.
PBSO said the second vehicle maneuvered around stopped vehicles in the intersection and proceeded east on Palmetto Park Road.
At this time, Kesner was lying on the road from the impact with the first vehicle. The second vehicle then ran over Kesner, striking her with its tires and undercarriage.
“I ran over there and tried talking with her, but she was not responding and she was motionless,” said Larry Smith, who stopped at the scene on his way home from dinner.
Smith says he saw Kesner on her stomach in the road, as another witness stopped to help.
“I called 911 immediately while the other gentleman stayed with her, and then I started redirecting traffic away from that part of the road,” Smith said.
According to witnesses, the drivers of both vehicles conversed with one another momentarily before fleeing the scene eastbound on Palmetto Park Road.
A friend said Kesner suffered multiple broken bones and internal bleeding, and is currently in the intensive care unit at Delray Medical Center.
PBSO said the drivers have not been identified at this time.
However, investigators said the first vehicle that hit Kesner was white and the second vehicle that ran over her was an off-white or gray. Investigators don’t know what type of vehicles yet.