Hospital patient carjacks 70-year-old man and runs him over twice, Florida cops say
A hospital patient ran over a 70-year-old man with his own car twice while escaping from a Florida medical center, Florida authorities said.
Lisa Nicosia, 41, was arrested after a chase, and now she’s charged with attempted murder, carjacking, fleeing to elude, resisting arrest without violence and driving while license is suspended or revoked, deputies with the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office said.
Her attorney’s information wasn’t available in court records Oct. 14.
On Oct. 12, Nicosia was taken to Tampa General Hospital in Brooksville under the Marchman Act, which allows the state to temporarily detain someone suspected of substance abuse in Florida.
The same day deputies brought Nicosia to the hospital, they say she escaped by running out of the emergency department.
She found a 70-year-old man sitting in his vehicle in the parking lot outside, then forced him out and got in the driver’s seat, deputies said.
The man ran to the passenger side to stop her from leaving, but she started driving in reverse and he fell under the car, law enforcement said.
She ran over his upper body one time, then hospital staff found her and asked her to stop so they could help the man, according to authorities.
“Nicosia ignored the pleas and proceeded to drive away, intentionally running over the victim a second time,” deputies said.
Nurses attended to the man right away, then he was flown to the Tampa General Hospital location in Tampa, about 50 miles south by car.
“The victim’s prognosis is grim,” deputies said.
Law enforcement responded to a hit-and-run call and said they found Nicosia driving the stolen vehicle. Deputies said she fled a traffic stop, first by car and then on foot, before they took her into custody.
She appeared to be under the influence of drugs, according to deputies. Once she was discharged from the hospital, she was booked in jail.
This story was originally published October 14, 2024 at 12:14 PM with the headline "Hospital patient carjacks 70-year-old man and runs him over twice, Florida cops say."