A passenger door left open caused an elderly woman to fall and sustain life-threatening injuries. As a police employee said, a 66-year-old driver and her 84-year-old mother were on their way to the cemetery in Niendorf on Thursday afternoon to visit the grave of the mother’s deceased husband.

The 84-year-old passenger got out of the car before her daughter wanted to park. The driver then backed up and hit her mother with the passenger door that was left open. The 84-year-old fell and suffered serious head injuries. She was then taken to a hospital by an ambulance.

A crisis intervention team from the German Red Cross provided acute psychosocial care for relatives and witnesses.

Investigations are ongoing and witnesses are asked to contact the police.

© dpa-infocom, dpa:260717-930-397873/2