Why did no one help my mother-in-law?

Published 11:59 pm Tuesday, September 15, 2009

On Tues., Sept. 1, my 76-year-old mother-in-law drove to the Andalusia Wal-Mart to pick up a prescription. She parked in the handicapped spot which is second from the front door. At 10:50 a.m., she checked out at the pharmacy. After she got back in her car she apparently passed out.

When her family noticed, that afternoon, that she was still not home, we began searching for her. At 5:00 p.m., my wife spotted her little red Nissan in front of Wal-Mart. She was sitting up with her chin on her chest and nonresponsive — she had been unconscious for six hours, closed up in the hot car. The rescue squad transported her to Andalusia Regional Hospital, where her body temperature was 106 degrees.

I do not understand why no one helped my mother-in-law. Her car was parked in a handicapped spot for six hours, less than 50 feet from the main entrance of Wal-Mart. Hundreds of customers walked right past her. The Wal-Mart greeter was right there. The parking lot cameraman, the parking lot security person, the buggy boy and employees going back and forth to lunch must have noticed her.

I do not understand how everyone can be so insensitive. If people were afraid to get involved, they should have at least notified the store management.

Dirk Price

Red Level