Wife backs car over husband, 78

An ordinary trip to the supermarket went horribly wrong Thursday for an elderly couple in Northeast Philadelphia.

As Henry Mulligan, 78, unloaded groceries from the back of their car in their Bustleton driveway, the blue Subaru Forrester rolled back over him, police said.

His 82-year-old wife, Lorraine, was at the wheel.

Police said it was an accident.

Mulligan was pronounced dead at 12:16 p.m. at Aria Health-Torresdale Campus.

Neighbor Laureen "Candi" Dybalski said she had heard fire engines and had gone to investigate. In the Mulligans' driveway she saw Henry Mulligan lying under the car.

His wife told her, "It's my husband. I accidentally ran over him," Dybalski said.

The couple had lived in the home for half a century, neighbors said.

Police said Lorraine Mulligan had driven the couple home from the grocery store. Both got out, and while Henry Mulligan was unloading bags, he told his wife that the car was still running.

She got back in to shut the engine off, but before she was able to hit the brakes, she heard a scream.

It was her husband.

People at the house Thursday declined to comment as Lorraine Mulligan got into a car and was driven away.