WOMAN MAY HAVE BEEN SAVED BY HEROES

A WOMAN WHO WAS HIT BY A CAR MAY HAVE BEEN SAVED BY SEVERAL MEN AND WOMEN WHO LIFTED THE CAR OFF OF HER RIGHT AFTER IT HAPPENED.  THE FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL SAYS 47 YEAR OLD DEBRA ABSALOM OF PORT CHARLOTTE WAS WALKING ACROSS HARBOR BOULEVARD AT THE INTERSECTION OF THE US 41 ACCESS ROAD AT AROUND 10:45AM WEDNESDAY.  SHE WAS REPORTEDLY NOT IN A CROSSWALK BUT WAS GOING FROM THE NORTHEAST TO THE SOUTHEAST CORNER WHEN SHE WAS HIT BY A CAR DRIVEN BY 87 YEAR OLD JOSEPH DARCELIN OF PORT CHARLOTTE, WHO REPORTEDLY DECIDED AT THE LAST MINUTE TO TURN LEFT AND DIDN’T SEE ABSALOM.  SHE WAS PINNED UNDER THE NISSAN SENTRA WHEN SEVERAL PEOPLE RUSHED OVER AND LIFTED THE VEHICLE OFF OF HER, PULLING HER OUT FROM UNDERNEATH.  THEY THEN COVERED HER WITH JACKETS AND BLANKETS UNTIL EMS ARRIVED.  ABSALOM WAS AIRLIFTED TO LEE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL IN CRITICAL CONDITION WITH LIFE THREATENING INJURIES.  TROOPERS SAY CHARGES ARE PENDING COMPLETION OF THEIR INVESTIGATION.