ASHEBORO, N.C. — An elderly driver’s open-toed shoe got caught on the accelerator as she attempted to park Wednesday afternoon, causing her SUV to jump the curb, cross a lawn and crash into a stairwell next to the historic courthouse.
The accident occurred at 2:05 p.m. near the courthouse at 145 Worth St., according to the Asheboro Police Department.
The driver told police she was trying to park when her shoe became caught on the accelerator. She lost control of the 2014 Toyota SUV, which drove through the lawn adjacent to the courthouse before wedging itself in the stairwell with both airbags deployed.
No one was injured. Police estimated damage to the stairwell at $700 and to the vehicle at $7,000. No charges were filed.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration classifies such accidents as “pedal errors” and estimates they cause about 16,000 crashes annually nationwide.
Ryan Pietzsch, a driver safety education expert for the National Safety Council, said footwear choices matter behind the wheel. “The wrong kind of shoe can cause an obstruction or a hazard while driving,” he said.
According to federal data, North Carolina experienced 2,411 pedal misapplication crashes between 2004 and 2008, though the actual number may be higher because the state reports parking lot accidents separately.
The NHTSA recommends against driving in flip-flops, mules, house shoes, wedges, new shoes, work boots, cowboy boots, high heels or barefoot.
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