Medford Man Hurt in Melrose Crash Sunday

Both Victim, Driver Elderly

– Allison Goldsberry

An 84-year-old Medford man was severely injured after being struck by a car driven by an elderly driver on Sunday morning in Melrose, according to published and televised reports.

The victim, Francis Blomerth, was struck on Main Street in Melrose in front of the Mexico Lindo restaurant around 10:30AM Sunday.

Melrose fire captain Ed Collina told the Boston Globe Blomerth suffered severe head and facial trauma and might have internal injuries. He was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital and is in critical condition.

According to WCVB, the 86-year-old driver, Virginia Nelson of Malden, said Blomerth appeared in the street in front of her car “out of nowhere,” but Blomerth’s wife Gertrude contends he was hit while walking in the crosswalk. She also said Blomerth recently had one leg amputated below the knee and had heart surgery.

Speaking to WBZ-TV, Executive Office of Transportation spokeswoman Ann Dufresne said Nelson’s license was taken away on Monday as she is considered an “immediate threat.”

The accident is the fourth serious accident this month involving elderly drivers and has further strengthened calls for additional driving tests for seniors.

State Senator Brian Joyce has sponsored a bill that would require drivers 85 and older to pass a road test and eye test every five years when having their licenses renewed. Massachusetts drivers are currently required to renew their licenses every five years and have to take an eye exam every ten years.