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Bridget Driscoll, a 44 year old housewife, was crossing the street while travelling to Old Town on August 17th 1896. At this moment she became the first pedestrian to be killed by a car.

The car belonged to an English/French car company who was giving demonstration rides throughout the town at a staggering 4 mph. Yes that’s right, four miles per hour. I think Austin Powers might have relevant experience.

The driver said that he was doing 4 mph when he ran over Mrs. Driscoll and that he had rung his bell and shouted but Mrs. Driscoll was frozen in terror. After trail it was decided that her death was accident and the driver was not at fault.

This was also the first time that the term ‘accident’ was used involving violence and speed. The Coroner Mr. William Percy Morrison said after the autopsy, “I hope that such a thing will never happen again”.

Wikipedia