A gran who was rushed to the hospital with head injuries after tripping over while shopping has been fined $190 – because she left her car parked outside the supermarket.
Rose Sharman, 70, smashed her face and arm when she stumbled over uneven cobblestones while doing her weekly shop.
An ambulance rushed her to the hospital and she was kept in overnight for observations.
Her daughter collected her Ford Fiesta from the Morrisons (one of U.K.’s largest supermarkets) carpark in Wellingborough, in the United Kingdom, later that day.
But three months later Sharman received a 155 British pounds ($190) penalty notice from Euro Car Parks, which operates the carpark, saying she breached the three-hour maximum stay.
The letter stated that an ANPR camera photographed Sharman’s car entering the carpark at 10 a.m. on March 25 and leaving at 3.10 p.m.
The company said: “Your vehicle was parked longer than the maximum period.”
Sharman, from Wellingborough, said: “I usually park in the multi-story car park but I wanted some fuel so I parked in Morrisons.
“I went into town to get some bits and pieces.
“I remember coming up the steps and out of the Swansgate Shopping Center.
“The next thing I knew I was on the floor, there was this woman saying ‘are you alright?’ It was awful.
“I didn’t know I was on the floor. I didn’t realize I had hit my head. I just wanted to go home.
“I really didn’t think about the car. About two or three months later, I got a letter and now the bill has risen to 155 pounds ($190).
“I had been two hours 10 minutes over the limit. I didn’t intend to do this.
“I went into Morrisons but they said the car park doesn’t belong to them.”
Rose was rushed by ambulance to Kettering General Hospital where she was treated for severe bruising and grazing and kept overnight with a suspected concussion.
Her injuries were so bad, she was unable to open her left eye for two days following the fall.
Sharman’s family wrote to the firm and explained the reason she left her car was because she was in the emergency room.
Granddaughter Amy Garrett, 31, said: “It’s an appalling way to treat my gran.
“She’s only recently lost her husband and now she’s got this to deal with. She can barely afford things at the moment anyway and now she’s been hit with a 155-pounds ($190) fine.
“I just wish the company would show some compassion but we’ve had none. You can’t even call someone to speak to a human being.
“When they wrote to us they said gran should have told them about her medical emergency before the time ran out on the car but she was in hospital with head injuries.
“She was hardly in a fit state to explain why she couldn’t drive.”
Euro Car Parks rejected the appeal and said Rose should have informed them of the emergency.
They said: “Any medical problems you were experiencing at site on the above date were not reported so no provision could be made, therefore parking charge notice was issued correctly and remains payable.”
Sharman has been told her case has now been passed to a debt recovery service.
The grandmother-of-nine said: “It’s another slap in the face. I’m on a pension. I have to be so careful.
“I can’t afford this money, I don’t see why I should have to pay this money. I didn’t do this intentionally. It’s making me feel depressed.”
A North Northamptonshire Council spokesman said: “Work has been carried out by Highways to repair paving at this location.”
Produced in association with SWNS.
