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Hernando Today

Runaway Car Kills Owner

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By KYLE MARTIN

Hernando Today

Published: January 15, 2009

SPRING HILL - An 83-year-old Spring Hill man died Tuesday after he was struck by his own car as it rolled down a driveway.

The apparent accident happened around 5:30 p.m. when Alfonse Kress backed his car out of his garage at 12490 Montego St. He needed the space to inflate the tires of his riding lawnmower, neighbor Jan Donahue said Wednesday.

But Kress failed to place the car in "park" before shutting off the engine and the 2000 Camry began rolling down the driveway, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Kress stood behind the car in an attempt to keep it from going farther and his wife, Olga, joined in the effort. But Kress lost his balance and fell into the center of Montego Street, where the left rear tire of the car ran over him, the Patrol reports.

The car continued rolling backwards until it struck Kress' mailbox and came to a stop.

His wife ran over to Donahue's house and screamed for her to dial 911. Donahue called for help while her son rushed over to assist the fallen Kress. He removed his shirt to stanch the bleeding.
Kress "was unconscious," Donahue said. The experience "was very traumatic."

The severity of the accident became clear when paramedics requested a medical helicopter to take Kress to a Tampa hospital, Donahue said.

FHP Sgt. Steve Gaskins, spokesman, said Wednesday that Kress died overnight from his injuries.

Donahue was neighbors with Kress for 21 years and, although they weren't close friends, she knew the couple well enough.

She said Kress came from a German background and that he met his wife there while he was in the service. She described him as a "very quiet, friendly man."

"He was very nice to everyone," she said.

Both Donahue and the Kresses attended St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Spring Hill.

Funeral arrangements were incomplete on Wednesday.

Reporter Kyle Martin can be reached at 352-544-5271 or kmartin@hernandotoday.com

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