CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. – An assistant principal who was directing traffic was struck by and pinned underneath an SUV Wednesday morning outside J.P. Taravella High School in Coral Springs, police said.
She was identified as Lisa Pannazzo.
Sky 10 flew above the scene on Riverside Drive as the doors to the SUV were open and orange traffic cones marked the location of the victim's shoes.
Firefighters arrived and had to lift the SUV to free the victim.
"They ran over her and they didn't stop. Everyone was honking their horn, and she got stuck under the car," one student, Desira Dore, said.
According to a police report, the driver of the SUV had just dropped off her daughter and was leaving the school when she turned at the stop sign, didn't see the woman and struck her. The driver said she got confused and accidentally stepped on the gas pedal instead of the brake, driving over Pannazzo.
"It rolled over her with the two front wheels and she got struck in the middle underneath for about 15 minutes," Dore said.
Pannazzo was flown to Broward Health North in serious condition. The driver remained at the scene.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the J.P. Taravella High School employee who was injured during an accident in front of the school this morning," Broward County Public Schools spokeswoman Tracy Clark said in a statement. "District and school staff are focused on ensuring the employee and employee's family have the support they need during this difficult time and throughout the recovery process. Counselors are also available at the school to assist students and staff."
Police are investigating the crash. It's unclear whether the driver will face charges.