Palm Beach Gardens — An 81-year-old woman died Thursday after being hit by a large truck while crossing a street inside the PGA National community. The Palm Beach Gardens Police Department confirmed that the woman, identified as Susan Schaufeld, died in the hospital two days after the crash that left her in critical condition.
It happened on the morning of Tuesday, January 27, shortly after 8:25 a.m. Police say officers were called to Ryder Cup Boulevard near Glencairn Road, a neighborhood street where people commonly walk and jog, to check on a pedestrian who had been struck by a Waste Management dump truck.
When first responders arrived, Schaufeld was lying in the roadway with severe injuries. Officers and Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue crews worked to give her emergency care right there. She was then taken to St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach in critical condition.
Two days later, on Thursday, January 29, authorities confirmed that Schaufeld died from her injuries in the hospital. Police say her family has been notified of her passing, but out of respect for their privacy, officials haven’t shared more about her medical condition before she died.
Investigators say the driver of the Waste Management truck, a 65-year-old man, was issued a citation for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a marked crosswalk. That ticket is not a criminal charge but part of the ongoing investigation into how the accident happened.
The Palm Beach Gardens Police Department stressed the investigation is still active. Officers are reviewing the evidence, checking traffic conditions, and talking to witnesses to understand what led to the crash. No additional enforcement actions have been announced yet.
Local officials took a moment to remind drivers and walkers alike that being alert matters, especially in residential areas with heavy foot traffic. They urged drivers to slow down near intersections and always yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, and asked pedestrians to stay aware of their surroundings when they cross the street.
Friends and neighbors remembered Schaufeld as a longtime member of the PGA National community. Her death has shaken many who knew her, and condolences poured in as word of the crash spread. Police say they will release more details if new information becomes available.
