Baby is born alive after pregnant woman was hit and killed by 88-year-old driver who hit the gas pedal instead of the brakes

  • Jodie Guthrie, 30, was killed after an 88-year-old motorist mistakenly hit the gas instead of the brakes outside a Rite Aid in Pittsburgh on Wednesday
  • The victim was 35 weeks pregnant at the time of her death and her premature baby was delivered by emergency C-section
  • The baby is listed in a critical but stable condition at UPMC Children's Hospital
  • The 88-year-old motorist was questioned by detectives and his family have explained that he has Alzheimer's

By David Mccormack for MailOnline and Associated Press Reporter

Published: | Updated:

A pregnant woman sitting outside a drugstore has died after an elderly driver trying to park jumped the curb and pinned her against the wall. 

The victim, 30-year-old Jodie Guthrie, was 35 weeks pregnant at the time of her tragic death.

Her premature baby was delivered by emergency C-section, and is listed as in a critical but stable condition at UPMC Children’s Hospital.

Jodie Guthrie, 30, was 35 weeks pregnant when she died on Wednesday. Her premature baby was delivered by emergency C-section, and is listed as in a critical but stable condition at Pittsburgh's UPMC Children’s Hospital

Jodie Guthrie, 30, was 35 weeks pregnant when she died on Wednesday. Her premature baby was delivered by emergency C-section, and is listed as in a critical but stable condition at Pittsburgh's UPMC Children’s Hospital

Guthrie, 30, was killed after an 88-year-old motorist mistakenly hit the gas instead of the breaks outside a Rite Aid in Pittsburgh on Wednesday

Guthrie, 30, was killed after an 88-year-old motorist mistakenly hit the gas instead of the breaks outside a Rite Aid in Pittsburgh on Wednesday

Guthrie, had been sitting outside a Rite Aid on the city's North Side on Wednesday afternoon when an 88-year-old motorist pulled into a parking space, authorities said.

The driver might have hit the gas instead of the brake, police said, causing his minivan to lurch out of the parking space and onto the walkway where Guthrie sat.

Witnesses tried to get the driver to back up after the accident, but he didn't seem to understand what happened - possibly because he couldn't see Guthrie pinned behind the car, said police Commander RaShall Brackney.

'He appeared to be disoriented at that point in time and confused as to the directions they were giving him,' Brackney said on Wednesday.

Guthrie had been sitting outside Rite Aid when the 88-year-old motorist pulled into a parking space. Witnesses say he didn't seem to understand what had happened

Guthrie had been sitting outside Rite Aid when the 88-year-old motorist pulled into a parking space. Witnesses say he didn't seem to understand what had happened

The motorist was questioned by detectives and released on Wednesday night without charges. However, the investigation remains open, Lt. Daniel Herrmann told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on Thursday. 

Relatives have identified the driver as Allan Massie. His granddaughter Candy Thompson apologized to Guthrie's family. Thompson was not with her grandfather during the accident.

'I can't imagine what her family is going through right now,' Thompson told KDKA-TV. 'My grandfather has Alzheimer’s, and I don’t think he’ll remember what happened today.'

Guthrie's death occurred the same day a 27-year-old pregnant woman in New York was fatally shot outside her apartment in Queens after dropping off her children at school.

Anastasia Massey, who was about six months pregnant, died at a hospital Wednesday. Her baby girl was born alive but later died. No arrests have been made.

Relatives have identified the driver as Allan Massie. His granddaughter apologized to Guthrie's family and said the 88-year-old man had Alzheimer's

Relatives have identified the driver as Allan Massie. His granddaughter apologized to Guthrie's family and said the 88-year-old man had Alzheimer's

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