Elderly lady charged with careless driving after careered through front of busy store

The woman whose car crashed into a Publix in Palm Coast injuring at least 10 shoppers has been charged with careless driving, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Thelma Wagenhoffer, 76, of Palm Coast also must appear in court due to the severity of the injuries.



Wagenhoffer's 2004 Toyota Camry careered through the exit door of the Publix at 4950 Belle Terre Parkway at 1:24 p.m. on Saturday. The car's impact has been described as an explosion, hurtling glass, carts, metal, an infant and other people who only moments earlier had been buying groceries or picking out flowers.

The accident seriously injured Lupo Mario Hernandez, 83, who was trapped under the car. Publix meat manager Dan Schill has been credited with quickly organizing a rescue party to lift the Toyota off Hernandez. The crash also injured 3-month-old Tyshawn Davis, who was treated at Florida Hospital Flagler and transferred but a hospital spokeswoman declined to say where the child was sent due to confidentially rules.


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Also injured was Hernandez's 81-year-old wife, Maria, who was listed in fair condition Monday at Florida Hospital Flagler. Another injured shopper, Gertrude Marley, 86, was in fair condition at Florida Hospital Flagler. Others treated for accident injuries and released from Florida Hospital Flagler over the weekend included Louis Caroppoli, 74, and his wife, Letricia Caroppoli, 69; Lashauna Hapton, 33; Marshanna Jones, 15; Daniel Siegel, 58; and Suzanne Kuczek, 54.