Stuart, FL (August 25, 2026) – A woman in her 80s was flown to the hospital after being struck by a vehicle in the parking lot of Ocean East Mall on Southeast Ocean Boulevard near Southeast Monterey Road Tuesday, according to Stuart police. Officers responded around 11:15 a.m. to the crash, which happened in front of a Dollar Tree store.
The driver stayed at the scene. The woman was flown to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce; her condition was not immediately clear.
Police asked the public to avoid the area while officers and emergency crews worked. We hope she has a full recovery.
Why Are Older Pedestrians at Higher Risk in Parking Lot Crashes?
Parking lots involve frequent stops, tight turns, and limited visibility around parked cars, all of which require quick reactions from both drivers and pedestrians. Older adults may need more time to cross a lane or step out of a vehicle’s path, narrowing the margin for error when a car is already in motion nearby.
Age can also affect how well someone withstands the physical force of being struck, even at the relatively low speeds typical of a parking lot. Injuries that a younger person might recover from more easily can pose greater risk for an older adult, which is part of why air transport is sometimes used even for a crash that happened at low speed.
Investigators typically examine the driver’s line of sight, vehicle speed, and the layout of the specific parking area when reviewing a crash like this one. This kind of review helps establish what, if anything, limited the driver’s ability to see the pedestrian in time.
