Denny’s restaurant sign falls on car killing 72-year-old woman

Jan 26 2023 Daniel Sharp

01/26/2023 – 7:41pm Update: Another passenger in the car has passed away. The man was identified as Lloyd Curtis, the husband. This story is still developing.

Denny’s restaurant sign falls on car killing 72-year-old woman

Last Friday, a 72-year-old woman died after a Denny’s restaurant sign fell on her car. Two other individuals, her husband, and her daughter survived the freak accident with minor physical injuries. However, the emotional injuries from the traumatic loss will likely last a lifetime.

The woman, who was later identified as Lillian Curtis, was parked at a Denny’s in Elizabethtown, a town located 45 miles south of Louisville, K.Y. It was said to be extremely windy on the day of the accident with the National Weather Service reporting gusts peaking at 45 to 55 mph.

Witnesses say the wind appeared to have caused the sign’s detachment from its post. Which caused it to land on the nearby vehicle. Curtis and her two relatives needed to be extracted from the vehicle by first responders. Once freed, they were all taken to a nearby hospital. Despite the efforts of medical staff, Curtis would later succumb to her injuries.

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Chris Denham, an Elizabethtown police spokesperson. Denny’s had the following to say about the incident:

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“Denny’s is aware of the incident that took place at our Elizabethtown location on Thursday. Safety is our top priority, and we are working with the authorities to better understand what led to this situation. Our thoughts are with all of those involved.”

The local county’s coroner’s office identified the cause of death as “blunt force injuries.” Authorities have not released the current status of the surviving passengers, but they were transported to the hospital for further medical care.

The Elizabethtown police force have stated their investigation remains ongoing.