A 68-year-old man died on Friday after a woman drove her car across a baseball field in the middle of a little league game in Maine.
Douglas Parkhurst had been near a group of children when the car entered the field, and witnesses say he had been pushing them out of harm’s way while trying to get the car to stop.
Justin Clifton, who had been playing basketball nearby, told News Center Maine Mr Parkhurst had given his life for those children – some who were as young as eight.
‘After the car got off the field, [the driver] came to the gate and the older guy pushed the kids right out of the way. He took the hit for the kids,’ he said.
Shocking video taken at the scene shows people running off the field after a car drove erratically across a little league baseball field, as people are heard screaming in the stands
Diana Bittner shared her account of the horrific situation to Facebook.
‘I stood there in horror as this crazy woman, tires smoking, raced up and down the road then drove right onto the ball field,’ she wrote.
‘Kids screaming and running for their lives . They tried to close the huge metal gate to prevent her from leaving and she smashed right through it.
‘That poor man was trying to help close the gate and went flying onto the street. It was a scene I will never forget.
‘I’m so grateful she didn’t hurt anyone else, but everyone there I’m sure were all as traumatized as I was.
‘Just horrible and so sad for this man and his family.’
The car was being driven by Carol Sharrow (pictured) who is charged with manslaughter
The car was being driven by Carol Sharrow, 51, who has been charged with manslaughter.
Police say at the time her car entered the field, between 200 and 300 people were in the stands and there were children on the field, who scattered to avoid the vehicle.
Video of the horrific moment shows people screaming and running across the field as Sharrow speeds in and spins her maroon sedan around the bases.
After Sharrow hit Mr Parkhurst, police say she sped away from the scene, and Mr Parkhurst died on his way to hospital.
Sharrow was arrested and has been booked into York County Jail, while police continue to investigate.
The 51-year-old’s best friend took to Facebook in her defense, telling followers Sharrow is mentally ill, and how shocked she was to hear it was her friend behind the wheel.
Sharrow has a mental illness, her best friend said on Facebook, and was not in control when she drove through the field where children as young as eight were playing
Denise Bass said Sharrow’s actions were ‘out of her control’ and the woman ‘wouldn’t hurt a fly’.
‘When she wakes up from this evilness that controlled her she will not be able to live with what she did,’ she said.
‘Mental illness can control you. I loved this person and I pray she gets the help to be able to survive what she did.
‘I also want to pray for Douglas and his family for their loss. I do not condone what my friend did. Please know it was not her, it was her illness.
‘On a last note, do not judge someone you don’t know, she never used drugs, hardly drank, she’s had a rough past but always was a strong woman and got through it.
‘Something obviously snapped and I’m sorry for her it did and I’m especially sorry for all the people who witnessed her at her rock bottom. I am very upset that this has happened to my friend and to the family she has affected.’
Sharrow’s best friend Denise posted a lengthy defense of her friend’s actions (pictured), saying the 51-year-old was mentally ill and ‘snapped’