Debate over elderly drivers heats up

As friends and family Tuesday tried to cope with the loss of a 5-year-old girl and her father who were killed by a motorist while walking across the street, the debate over elderly and unfit drivers raged on Internet blogs and Salt Lake radio stations.

Don Ostler, 29, was walking his daughter, Gwyndalyn, to school Monday just before 12:30 p.m. They were crossing 1300 East near 5300 South in a crosswalk and had almost finished walking across all four lanes of traffic when they were struck by an elderly driver.

The 86-year-old man police believe was responsible for the accident had not been arrested as of Tuesday afternoon. The case was expected to be screened with the Salt Lake District Attorney's Office to determine what, if any, charges should be filed.

At Twin Peaks Elementary School, 5325 S. 1045 East, crisis counselors were on hand Tuesday to help students and faculty who were having difficulty dealing with the tragedy.

Maureen James, the Granite School District's crisis team coordinator, talked with the school's faculty Monday night. The team was back at the school Tuesday where a few students who were having a hard time needed their services, she said. "(Gwyndalyn) had a couple of close friends. They played together," James said.

Teachers were also prepared to talk to students who didn't know Gwyndalyn but knew of her situation or knew that a child their own age was hurt. In those cases, James said it was important to talk to the students about other ways they can keep themselves safe, such as wearing seat belts or bike helmets, "so they feel some sense of control over their lives."

Monday's accident, she admitted, was tough to explain to children because Gwyndalyn and her father "did everything that was right."

"The hard part is you can't really give them a why," James said. "Those people that were killed were following the rules. Accidents are hard to explain. There isn't a reason why. It's a tough one. There's not a real good answer."

The accident has also raised the debate again over elderly drivers.

A 2006 Utah Transportation Survey found nearly 70 percent of the 85-plus age group reported driving as their main mode of transportation. Included in that 70 percent were elderly drivers with physical problems that affected their mobility.