The Joke Was on Him

Never a good driver in his youth, [Walter Smith of Scandia, Minn.] in his mid-80's was declining physically and a serious threat to himself and anyone he might encounter on the road in rural Minnesota.

But try as they might, Mr. Smith's children, who lived a mile away and would take him anywhere anytime, were unable to persuade him to stop driving. So they took his keys away. When Mr. Smith had another set made, they took his pickup away.

But after two months without wheels, Mr. Smith lapsed into a serious depression and the family relented. Just as his family feared, not long after his truck was returned, he backed out of his driveway into the path of a car and died in the crash.