COTTONWOOD, Ariz. -- A Cottonwood woman died Friday, two weeks after her own vehicle struck and ran over her as she was trying to fix it.
According to Yavapai County Sheriff's Office spokesman Dwight D'Evelyn, 55-year-old Kim Salzano was injured in the parking lot of the American Heritage Academy in Cottonwood on May 13th.
Witnesses told deputies they saw Salzano working under the hood of her Honda Prelude while stopped in the pick-up area at the school at about 3:15 p.m.
They said suddenly the vehicle started and drove forward, running over Salzano and striking at least six vehicles parked nearby.
The Honda came to a stop after striking an unoccupied car at the edge of the school's parking lot.
Salzano's 8-year-old granddaughter was in the car and witnesses reported that they saw the girl trying to climb into the front seat of the moving vehicle in an apparent attempt to stop it.
The girl was not injured.
According to the sheriff's office, Salzano was treated at the Verde Valley Medical Center, then flown to the Flagstaff Medical Center.
Salzano reportedly suffered major trauma to her mid-section with possible broken ribs and a collapsed lung.
The exact cause of the accident is still under investigation.
Deputies said they are looking into electrical and mechanical issues with the car.
