Woman who ran into school gives up license

Published Friday, August 3, 2007

BELLEVILLE, Ill. (AP) - An 85-year-old widow whose car slammed through an elementary school cafeteria, killing an 8-year-old boy, pleaded guilty yesterday to a traffic citation, agreed to pay a $500 fine and gave up her driver’s license.

Grace Keim acknowledged she failed to reduce speed Jan. 29 before plowing through the school in the St. Louis suburb of Shiloh, killing second-grader Ryan Wesling and injuring two other students.

Prosecutors have said the accident was unintentional and they don’t plan to file criminal charges against Keim.

Ryan’s family is pressing a wrongful-death lawsuit against Keim.

When reached by telephone yesterday at her Belleville home, Keim told a reporter, "No comment, sir. Sorry," then hung up.

Keim was en route to a driving class at a nearby senior citizens’ center when she drove her 1992 Chevrolet Cavalier up a dead-end drive at Shiloh Elementary School, then tried to turn around. According to investigatory reports, Keim said she "panicked and felt disoriented," and her car "went crazy."