What would you do if you were traveling down the highway at 70-80 mph and you saw a car barreling straight toward you at 70 mph?
That’s what happened on the NY State Thruway when an 86 year old man, Joseph Dorcely, lost his way after dropping off his daughter at church. He got lost in his own neighborhood and was trying to find his way home, for nine hours!
Two drivers in the northbound lane caught Dorcely on their cell phone, speeding northward in the southbound lane of the thruway.
State trooper, John Devoe, who was traveling south on the thruway drove past Dorcely driving in the wrong direction. Devoe sped to the nearest emergency turnaround, jumped out and ran into oncoming traffic, warning southbound motorists about the oncoming car!
Thankfully, Dorcely stopped when he saw Devoe standing in his path. Later Devoe said, “I knew what I had to do: I had to shut down the lanes and hopefully, somehow get him to slow down or stop.”
Miraculously, not one person was injured. Mr. Dorecly’s daughter stated that he is in the beginning stages of dementia, and took a turn for the worst that day.
Dorecly was treated at a local hospital. No charges were filed, but authorities strongly recommended his license be revoked. His daughter later stated, “his driving days are over.”
For anyone who has had a family member affected by Alzheimer’s, you can easily understand how this could happen. So keep a watchful eye on your elder parents/grandparents, and take those keys away if it presents a danger to them and those around them.