MELROSE, mass. -- The debate over elderly drivers in Massachusetts was re-fueled over the weekend with yet another crash involving a woman in her 80s resulting in critical injuries.

Now, some insurance companies are reconsidering the discount offered to senior drivers in the wake of the crashes.

There have been five serious crashes involving elderly drivers in Massachusetts in recent weeks.

In the latest crash in Melrose, Virginia Nelson, 86, of Malden, said a man stepped into the street from between two parked cars and was not in a crosswalk when she hit him about 10:30 a.m. Sunday.

The 84-year-old victim has not yet been identified, but he was reported in critical condition Monday. It was not immediately clear whether Nelson would face any charges in connection with the crash.

The insurance industry is now considering whether older drivers should continue to get a 25 percent discount on their premiums, the Boston Herald reported.

The Automobile Insurers Bureau of Massachusetts has launched a study on seniors behind the wheel. The study showed that drivers under the age of 75 are safer, and drivers over 75 are involved in more crashes than the average adult and seniors are more likely to file claims for property damage than bodily injury.

A look at Registry of Motor Vehicles data from 2006 to 2008 showed that 65 people died in car wrecks caused by people over 80, with 22 of those fatalities occurring last year.

There is already a push on Beacon Hill to have drivers over the age of 85 to pass a road and eye test. A hearing on that proposal is set for Tuesday.