BajaNomad

Quick TJ Trip

rdrrm8e - 9-29-2010 at 12:37 PM

Missing Irvine woman, 84, and her poodle turn up in Tijuana


IRVINE – An 84-year-old woman who became disoriented and drove from Irvine to Tijuana has been reunited with her family and is in good health, authorities said.

"She's in good spirits and doing OK," said Lt. Henry Boggs of the Irvine Police Department on Wednesday.


Family members drove to a clinic in Tijuana on Tuesday to pick up Rosalie Delite Smith, who was lost after going to a doctor's appointment on Monday. Police talked to Smith and relatives Tuesday to determine how the 84-year-old woman drove from Irvine to across the U.S. Mexico border with her poodle, Bree.

"While she doesn't remember how she got where she ended up, (Smith) said she was traveling alone," Boggs said.

Smith was not in need of medical attention, and though she appeared confused, she seemed happy to be back in Orange County, he said.

Smith was visiting a Newport Beach doctor Monday when she became lost, authorities said. Smith called family members at 6:30 p.m. after her visit to tell them she was lost but heading home.

About two hours later, an employee at Gold's Gym in Fullerton called family members to tell them Smith was lost and her cell phone was losing power. The employee also told relatives he gave her directions to find her way back to her Irvine home.

Smith headed south. She made her way to a Tijuana clinic by Tuesday, where she asked for help in contacting her family, Boggs said. The family drove her back.

Family members told police that Smith had been diagnosed with onset dementia and had become disoriented in the past.


:biggrin:

Brian L - 10-1-2010 at 11:53 AM

I'm really happy she is safe, but where is her trip report? Pictures?

DENNIS - 10-1-2010 at 11:56 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by blane
I'm really happy she is safe, but where is her trip report? Pictures?



Yeah....did she have to pay mordida for blowing out stop signs or speeding?

Woooosh - 10-1-2010 at 12:04 PM

Did she have her passport with her?

DENNIS - 10-1-2010 at 12:11 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Woooosh
Did she have her passport with her?


I think I'm going to have my Passport tattood on my arm.

bajaguy - 10-1-2010 at 02:11 PM

Where did she park the U-Haul?????

DENNIS - 10-1-2010 at 02:42 PM

At least she didn't give away her car. :cool:

Dave - 10-1-2010 at 02:48 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by rdrrm8e
Family members told police that Smith had been diagnosed with onset dementia and had become disoriented in the past.


What the hell was she doing still driving?

DENNIS - 10-1-2010 at 02:51 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Dave

What the hell was she doing still driving?



She forgot that she wasn't supposed to.

Dave - 10-1-2010 at 03:01 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
She forgot that she wasn't supposed to.


And her family?

Did they forget, too? :rolleyes:

k-rico - 10-1-2010 at 04:08 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Dave
Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
She forgot that she wasn't supposed to.


And her family?

Did they forget, too? :rolleyes:


It's tough to convince oldsters they're too old to drive. I went through that with both of my parents.

[Edited on 10-1-2010 by k-rico]

True

Dave - 10-1-2010 at 04:20 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by k-rico
It's tough to convince oldsters they're too old to drive. I went through that with both of my parents.


But, then, life's tough. If this would have been my mother, I can guarantee she wouldn't be driving.

bajaguy - 10-1-2010 at 04:24 PM

In California, I believe, family members or the affected person's doctor can petition California DMV to recall the persons drivers license.

woody with a view - 10-1-2010 at 04:32 PM

she was looking for one last blast, and was heard to say, "aye, aye, adalita's!"

k-rico - 10-1-2010 at 04:33 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Dave
Quote:
Originally posted by k-rico
It's tough to convince oldsters they're too old to drive. I went through that with both of my parents.


But, then, life's tough. If this would have been my mother, I can guarantee she wouldn't be driving.


Yeah my Dad didn't stop until I followed him one day to take his car to the shop and he drove right through a red light at a busy intersection. I think he was 84. He lucked out. I told him about it and he stopped driving.