Food Pantry Volunteer Pinned by a Table Against a Wood Cabinet When the Table was Struck by Backing Vehicle, Michigan

SUMMARY

In fall 2014, a food pantry volunteer in her 60s died when a sports utility vehicle (SUV) backed into a table, causing the table to pin the volunteer against a wood cabinet (Figure 1). The decedent and another volunteer were sitting in folding chairs behind the table, which was located approximately 12-15 feet from the overhead door opening. A third volunteer was sitting on the table. The SUV driver was driving the vehicle for the first time. To access the food pantry distribution area, the vehicle was backed up a slightly inclined concrete apron. The driver stated to the responding police department that, as he was backing up the concrete apron to the garage, his foot slipped off the brake pedal, hit the gas pedal, and accelerated in reverse. Other food pantry volunteers, who could see what was happening, yelled to the driver to stop the vehicle. The driver was unable to stop the vehicle before it struck the volunteer sitting on the table. The vehicle had enough momentum to push the table to the back wall. The decedent was pinned by the table against a wood cabinet. Emergency response was summoned as her fellow volunteers initiated CPR. Emergency response arrived, continued resuscitative efforts while the decedent was transported to a nearby hospital. She was declared dead upon arrival to the emergency room.

Food Pantry Volunteer Pinned by a Table Against a Wood Cabinet When the Table was Struck by Backing Vehicle, Michigan [PDF 545 KB]