Cheryl K. Henderson allegedly fled the scene of an accident with the driver of the other vehicle on her hood (Flagler County Sheriff’s Office)
A 76-year-old woman in Florida was arrested over the weekend after she sped away from the scene of a car accident at speeds of over 50 mph and made it about two miles — with the driver of the other vehicle atop the hood of her car holding on for his life the entire way. Cheryl K. Henderson was taken into custody on Saturday and charged with one count of felony aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and one count of leaving the scene of an accident causing damage, authorities announced.
According to a press release from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, deputies at about 1:57 p.m. on the afternoon of Sept. 30 responded to the area of Palm Coast Parkway and Belle Terre Parkway regarding reports of a hit-and-run car accident. Before arriving at the location, deputies were notified by FCSO Dispatch that the suspect had been identified as Henderson and she was driving a silver Ford SUV
Upon arriving at the scene, witnesses told deputies that Henderson and an adult male driving another car had been involved in a “minor vehicle crash.” Following the crash, the witnesses said that Henderson fled the scene.
“However, as she drove away from the scene, she struck the other driver and then fled onto Belle Terre Parkway with the driver hanging onto the hood of her vehicle,” the release states. “The victim told deputies they had been involved in an accident with Henderson, but when she refused to stop, the victim used their vehicle to block her flight. When the victim stepped out of their car, Henderson allegedly sped up, and the victim was forced to jump onto Henderson’s hood to avoid being run over. Henderson then sped away with the victim hanging onto the hood of her car.”
Police said that as Henderson drove away, she reached speeds of about 50 mph despite the fact that the victim — whose name was not released by authorities — was clearly holding onto the hood of her car.
Another driver who witnessed the bizarre series of events was able to force Henderson off of the road after she got about two miles away from the spot of the initial accident, police said.
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Henderson spoke to police after being forced off of the road and allegedly admitted that she had “been involved in a car accident,” but said that she “did not stop due to her being out of gas,” according to a copy of the probable cause affidavit.
“When the male [victim] pulled his vehicle in front of hers to make her stop she stated that she went to go around him to get to the gas station before she ran out of gas, [but] he jumped onto the hood of her car,” the affidavit states. “When I asked her why she did not stop when she observed [the victim] jump onto her hood, she said she was trying to pull over so that he would get off. I then asked why she drove approximately two miles before stopping and she kept saying that she was trying to but couldn’t.”
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said in a statement after Henderson’s arrest that the incident easily could have led to someone being killed.
“Never hit another person with a car. Thankfully, that victim survived without any serious injuries but I’m sure it had to be a scary moment for the victim holding on to the hood and the other witnesses. She should never be allowed to touch a steering wheel again.”
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