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Woman, 87, Left Overnight in Cold Van
By William Wan, Baltimore Sun
March 24, 2005
An 87-year-old woman being transported from a West Baltimore adult day-care center Monday was left overnight in a van - apparently overlooked by the driver.
"It's absolutely outrageous," city Health Commissioner Dr. Peter L. Beilenson said last night. "When you're driving a van for the elderly or disabled, you count how many you take in and how many get off. It's not rocket science."
According to Beilenson, the driver left Raven's Medical Adult Day Care Center at 5:30 p.m. with several elderly passengers - including the woman, who was believed to have fallen asleep in the back. The driver parked the van at his home overnight and did not see her until unlocking the vehicle at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Temperatures, meanwhile, had dipped to the low 40s.
"She's very old and couldn't talk," Beilenson said. "But she appeared to be OK. I believe Adult Protective Services has taken her into their custody."
Operators of the day-care center could not be reached for comment last night.
Beilenson said the driver was fired, and that the matter has been turned over to the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, which licenses adult day-care centers.
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