Nurse Killed in Hit and Run While Helping Patient
Image: ClickonDetroit
A Michigan nurse was struck and killed by a car while trying to help a nursing home patient who had walked out of the facility and laid down in the middle of a busy road at night.
Incident details
42-year-old Pebbles Latrice Lockhart was a licensed practical nurse at Majestic Care, a nursing home in Livonia, Michigan. On July 23 around 9:40 p.m., an elderly female patient walked out of the facility and proceeded to lay down in the middle of a nearby road.
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“She was lying on 5 Mile, just saying some random, crazy stuff,” an anonymous witness told a local news outlet.
Lockhart and other employees went outside to help the patient and get her back to safety. Eventually, they convinced the patient to sit down in a wheelchair.
While attempting to escort the patient out of the street, police say Lockhart was struck by an 80-year-old driver who swerved to avoid hitting the wheelchair.
“A car came, ended up hitting one of the employees,” a witness said. “It was a bad accident, for sure. She was hit at a decent speed. The car was probably going at least 45 -- the speed limit’s 45 down here.”
Lockhart was taken to a nearby hospital by ambulance where she succumbed to her injuries. She leaves behind three children.
Authorities say the elderly driver who struck Lockhart also crashed into two other cars. Police did not say whether anyone else was injured. It is unclear if criminal charges will be filed against the driver.
Friends remember
Sara Howard, a long-time friend of Lockhart’s, agreed to an interview with a local news outlet.
“She was such a compassionate person,” Howard said in a video posted by the news station. “That’s what nurses do, you know, they’re always concerned about their patients. I just never thought it would be her, you know, because she’s a mother of three kids, she works really hard to support her family. Her kids adore her. She has a brand new baby. And to my understanding, she wasn’t even supposed to work this particular weekend, she just picked up the shift…and for her to lose her life–she just turned forty-two, she just had her birthday a few weeks ago.”
Employer statement
Majestic Care says they are cooperating fully with the investigation and released the following statement to the media:
“It is with profound grief and immense sympathy that we mourn the unfortunate passing of a valued care team member of Majestic Care who lost her life in a devastating accident.
Paul D. Pruitt, CEO of Majestic Care shares that the entire Majestic Care family is heartbroken by this deeply upsetting event.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Care Team member’s family, friends, and colleagues as they cope with this unimaginable loss,” Pruitt said. “She was an amazing caregiver that provided exceptional care to residents and created magic for all those around her. We recognize with admiration the dedicated care she gave serving as a Licensed Practical Nurse and the calling she answered by always putting the lives of residents as a top priority.”
Majestic Care is providing grief counseling and support services to all Care Team members and residents who have been impacted by this tragedy. We understand that this is an incredibly difficult time for everyone, and we are dedicated to providing the necessary resources and assistance to help them through this painful period.
We are committed to maintaining a safe and secure work environment for all our Care Team members, and this accident has reminded us of the importance of workplace safety. Majestic Care is cooperating fully with the relevant authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident to understand what happened and to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
As we grasp this loss, Majestic Care remains committed to focusing on enriching the lives of those we are honored to care for. Our Care Team and residents will remain at the heart of each decision made. To find and access resources and support provided, please reach out to MyMajestic@MajesticCare.com.”
Social media reactions
The tragic story is beginning to gain traction on social media. Instagram user orlando_nightmare posted a video of the news coverage.
The reel has attracted several comments from the public, with a few wondering why traffic did not stop and another concerned about the safety measures in place at the facility.
Image: Instagram
TikTok user t.vmoments posted a similar video, with over twenty comments so far from users expressing their condolences.
