Woman Crashes Car in Palo Alto, Dies of Heart Attack

A woman driving through Palo Alto tonight suffered a heart attack, crashed her car and died on the scene, firefighters said.

The 78-year-old woman was driving north on Foothill around 2:30 p.m. about one mile south of Arastradero Road when her car struck a tree on the right side of the road, according to a statement issued by Palo Alto Fire Department Battalion Chief Chris Woodward.

Fire Engine 5 arrived and found the woman inside her car suffering a traumatic heart attack. She was unresponsive with a faint pulse, according to Woodward.

Fire units had to extricate the vehicle before they could remove the woman, and Palo Alto paramedics performed advanced life support measures to try to save her.

The woman’s pulse was lost while she was being extracted, however, and she was pronounced dead on the scene, according to Woodward.

Palo Alto Fire and paramedic units were supported by Santa Clara County responders and Palo Alto Police. No personnel were injured in the response.