Remedial driving instruction

From this morning's Centre Daily Times:

Woman injured after trying to stop drifting car

From CDT staff reports
June 1, 2011 8:10am EDT

A Julian woman was taken to Mount Nittany Medical Center for treatment after state police said she tried to stop a car from coasting, driverless, down High Street in Port Matilda Monday night. 

Helen Greenland, 59, was treated at the scene by Port Matilda EMS before being transported to Mount Nittany with what state police said were moderate injuries. 

Police said Greenland, driving a Chevrolet S-10, had parked it along the 500 block of South High Street about 10:55 p.m. Monday. She attempted to drive away when she noticed the parking brake was on. Police said she pulled what she thought was the parking brake release, but actually pulled the hood release. 

Greenland got out of the vehicle to close the hood, leaving it in neutral. She then pulled the parking brake while standing outside the vehicle, which began to coast down the hill on South High Street, police said. She tried unsuccessfully to stop the vehicle and was dragged for about 10 feet. 

The S-10 coasted down South High Street, through the intersection with Beckwith Road, and struck a utility pole. State police said the investigation is ongoing.

I don't know, maybe it's just me, but I would have thought about getting into the car  before releasing the parking brake.