Ore. woman trapped under dresser for nearly 4 days

AP Graphics

(AP) PORTLAND, Ore. - Authorities say an Oregon woman was trapped for nearly four days after a dresser fell on top of her.

KGW-TV reports that neighbors asked Washington County sheriff's deputies to check on Cedar Mill resident Virginia Cartier on Friday, after they realized they hadn't seen her in a while.

Deputies forced their way into the 67-year-old's home and found her pinned underneath the dresser. Cartier had been trying to move the dresser.

Deputies say the woman was in and out of consciousness after not having any food or water for days. She had injuries to both legs and was treated at a hospital.

Cartier has since been released and is recovering at the home of a friend.

[knewsteerrrrr]

Halp!! Ive fallen, an I canna get up!!!!

[Transatlantique]

How horrible, and I do feel sorry for her. It sounds outlandish and nightmarish, but when one lives alone these things can happen. I live alone and have no friends checking up on me, so I could die and my exploded corpse would be found days if not weeks later because of the foul smell. I pray that I don't end up that way, or get trapped under a dresser. A service needs to be set up that checks in everyday to see how the people who live alone are getting along, and not only older people. If one feels one needs the service, one could be on a registry of sorts.

[gmcken]

there are various medical alert systems for seniors. You wear a special bracelet, ring, or pendant with an alarm built in. If you have an emergency like this one you push a button and the seervice notifies emergency services and family. They work well

[erasmus111]

What did she have in that dresser? BRICKS??

[Jeska123123]

Many elderly people aren't as strong as they used to be. Some dressers are very heavy. I'm young, healthy, and of fair strength but if my dresser fell on me I'd be stuck until my husband got home. I'm just glad she had good neighbors who spoke up, they saved her life.

[1stlttightwad]

This only illustrates why we should all carry a cell phone or other device at all times..Glad she is OK.

[Lerianis4]

With the dresser falling on her, it is pretty likely that her arms would have been pinned or she wouldn't have been able to reach the phone/device in question.

I'm more wondering what she was doing to have the dresser fall on her in the first place.